Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-12
The PASTURE PROBL EN-.
Number Of Live Stock IS Returned
by Town Assessors.
Wesds and Horn Files Estimated Aysrao,
Hay Crop 81 Per Cent.

The State board bulletin OF .Julv
treats of the pasture bulletin. It con-
tains other matter that is Of special in
terest to farmers. who are closely
watching the returns Of the results in
v1rious parts of the State.
The bulletin says in part:
In this bulletin for July we have
tried to get from our correspondents
IN addition to the regular questions
their IDEAS In relation to pastures, and
their replies have come in very fully
We feel that there will be found much
or value in the many suggestions
which they contain. The pasture
problem is one of the utmost import
ance to all farmers, and as our live
stock increases 1t will continue to de-
mand their increased attention.
The question of soiling stock in sum-
mer is coming more and more to the
front, and in sections particularly near
our larger cities and villages where
land is comparatively high, it's merits
deserve careful attention. OF course
1t has disadvantages as well advan-
ta2es. Among these may be mentioned,
the increased labor necessary and the
larger amount of care required to plan
for succession of soiling crops which
will give a continual supply of food for
the season; these are really the only
serious questions to be considered.
On the other side, we have an in
creased amount of stock, larger stock
carrying capacity for the farm, and
larger amount of farm fertilizer. These
questions, carried along with the best
methods of maintaining our pastures,
will enable the farmer to carry his
full quota of stock through the summer
months with profit.
NUMBER OF LIVE STOCK.
From the returns of the town asses
sors, as far as they have been received
by the State assessors, we learn that
there is marked increase in one
year-olds and two-year-Olds, and de-
crease in the number of cows. large
numbers having been sold to go out of
the State within the last year. We
trust this reduction may soon be
stopped and the increase which the re-
turns on -year-olds and two-year-
olds would indicate may continue and
result in an increase in the number of
cows within the present year.
HORN FLIES.
From our experience in our own herd
and from observation in the herds of
others, we are of the opinion that this
pest will be more troublesome this sea-
son than ever before, and wish to urge
upon farmers the necessity of protect
ing their COWS from them. We know
of no better or more economical meth
cd than the liberal use of Pyrethrum
powder, which may be purchased of
any druggist for about thirty cents
per pound. Take an ordinary quarter
pound spice can, remove the cover and
punch few holes in the bottom with
an awl or shingle nail, fill with the
powder. put on the cover and use as a
buster. The powder can be used in this
way without waiting any,and it will BE-
found very effective.
PERNICIOUS WEEDS.
The orange hawkweed is apparently
spreading so rapidly, particularly Ken
nebec county and in the central sec
tions of the State, that we have
thought best to call especial attention
to it in this bulletin, and present our
readers with cut of the weed taken
from a bulletin of the Maine expert
ment station, and ask our readers care
full attention to it's character and his
tory as given by Professor Harvey. We
also add an account of new weed
which was brought into the office re-
Gently by Mr.. B. w. Berry of Litch-
field.
T0vVN ~ ~ n A r IL
WEED.
Perennial by slender rOot-stockS and
by runners; stem simple, erect, one to
one and one-half feet high. nearly leaf
less, densely hirsute, the hairs toward
the apex of the stem black at the base,
leaves mostly radical, oblong-lance-
olate, denticulate, hirsute on both sides,
sessile, those of the stems two or three;
all but the lowest reduced to bracts;
heads in a bracted cyme: pedunclas
with black, glandular hairs and close.
brown coating CT stellate hairs; in
volucre about one-third of an inch in
diameter, it's bracts Interchangeable,
little intoxicated. provided on the back
with straight, glandular and stellate
hairs: flowers all perfect, with Hgulate
orange covered corollas; achenia about
one line long, dark brown, linear in out
line, terete. ten-ribbed, truncate; pap
pus a row of dirty white bristles.
MEANS OF ERADICATING THESE
WEEDS.
The patches should be moved before
haying and before the flower is open,
50 as to prevent seeding. and again
later to prevent second seeding. The
plants should be raked up as soon as
cut and burned when dry. The surest
way to destroy the plants is TO pillow
D~