Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-06-22

the calves are males they can sell OF
raise them for oxen; or good big cali
will sell for good round price for veal.
| think every farmer should raise all ne
possibly can without buying very much
fertilizer. Raise more grain and buy
less, and farming will pay better. The
farmer In this section cannot afford to
buy too much manure or commercial
fertilizers. w. K. OVERLOOK.
OXFORD COUNTY.
FRYEBURG.-I have made speciality
Of dairying for several years, and have
been increasing the number and quality
Of my cows, and shall continue to do so.
We expect prices to change. Butter to-
day, OF first quality, Is higher than any
other product Of the farm. When man
Is we'll prepared for any special business,
1t Is difficult for him to change without
loss. The man who is raising steers and
oxen can do no better than continue tn
that line. A good COW or good pair
Of oxen will always bring good money.
AS far as my observation goes { have
had no experience) In regard to stable
dressing, II made near saw or planning
mill, it Is hardly worth the gift, II 1t has
TO be moved far. Not one OF US In ten
make and save nearly the amount OF
dressing at home that 1t Is possible for
us to do. Now would 1t not be better
for us to wake up to this, instead Of
buying so much commercial fertilizer,
thereby enriching so many who are not
farmers: j. JUpsoN PIKE.
DENMARK the dairy outlook
at present, and what 1t has been for n
year or two past, and the present rates
OF beef, and nice oxen, steers and heif-
ers, it looks IA though farmers would
do better TO have mixture OF stock rs
well as mixed crops. Every farmer that
keeps strict account with his cows,
finds very small net gain, with lots OF
hard work that could be avoided with
young stock, and as we are told that
'time Is money" We should find more
than we do in the COW house. Grass,
corn and potatoes are the leading crops
for farmers In this locality, and give
most profit; for without good barn OF
hay aud fodder, what can the poor farm
er do: No man can. with our markets,
depend on commercial fertilizers. Farm
ers should keep more pigs, make all the
manure they can. and stop buying fer
tilizers. CHAs. Ii. SMITH.
SoUIu WATERFORD Il think IL should
be the aim OF every farmer to increase
the production OF his farm, and In doing
this he should make use OF all the labor
saving implements, rather than hire
more help, as the price OF farm help
does not compare with the price OF farm
products. For the majority OF farmers
think II would be better 10 make a
speciality OF some one crop, In this To-
cality. Sweet corn has been the main
crop which, at the present low price,
yielded last year on an average $50 per
acre, and the fodder extra. don't
think il would be safe 10 depend on
commercial fertilizers alone, nor profit
able 10 buy stable dressing: but increase
our herds OF cows as far as possible, and
by the use OF sbsorbents, ETC., we shall
increase the productiveness OF our farms
so that we shall need 10 buy no stable
dressing and but little phosphate.
c. S. HAMLIN.
DIxrIELp.-I believe that the farm
should carry rs large a stock IA IL can
be made To, without looking To outside
sources for feed or support. What that
increase OF stock shall be must depend
upon situation, and other circumstances !;
cows and sheep on some, and perhaps
steers. on others. Certainly, We should
lessen the cost OF production by the use
Of machinery and in every other possible
WAY. Dependence upon a single course
In farm management Ia often attended
by failure In times OF depression, etc.
Where variety of things are attended
TO with economy and prudence, one or
more Of them NAV be profitable. Loca-
ton and nature OF farm must determine
largely its management. Here farmers
do not find il profitable to use CONNER
cial fertilizers further than for planting
purposes. Sweet corn has formerly
been planted largely here for the cam
nery. but has been supplanted to con-
siderable extent by yellow corn. A
goodly supply Of hay on any farm is al
ways main dependence; and when the
silo comes to the assistance, the farm Is
nearing the self-supporting mark.
E. l.. ToRREY.
ANpovER.-I think IL very necessary
TO increase the amount Of live stock, es-
pecially beef cattle, as a large amount
OF money goes out Of the state every
year for beef that might be raised here.
Lots Of the back pastures are being I'LL
ed up with colts that are drag on the
market. while cattle buyers look 10 vain
for beef cattle. Our little town meat
market has to send to Portland for the
beef that il sells. Such things should
not be. Our back pastures should be
filled with young cattle that could be
sold in the fall. IL costs less to grow
two steers than one colt. Corn Is the
best crop raised here. 1t Is planted with
a corn planter, and level land cultiva-
ton is made use OF In handling IL. Some
grow IL for the silo. LYMAN ABBOTT.
HIRAM.-I am rapidly nearing my
10Th mile post. and have got TO pay only
one more poll tax, and never having
made great success at farming,
shouldn't want TO say great deal on
the best methods Of conducting farm.
But in view of the fact that after the
last week Of rain, hundreds OF acres OF
land intended for sweet corn have got to
lie for DAYS to dry of, | would have the
farm thoroughly underdrained, with
facilities for saving all the fertilizing
material around the premises, remove
all rocks and other obstructions. so that
most of the work could be done with
-mschinery. l would practice industry
and economy; never use tobacco or cider
and sit on the wagon seat as little as
possible, especially when the caterpil-
lars were eating the apple trees all up,
aud keep myself unspotted from the
world. As regards the question Of in
creasing stock, should say yes, by all
! means. The number Of good cows,
heifers, steers and swine should be in
creased so per cent in this state In the
next five years. Should favor mixed
farming on most farms. Farmers should
raise three-fourths Of good living on
their land. The sweet corn crop for
canning has been the most profitable In
this vicinity late years, some having
realized 500 per acre, and often getting
$50 per acre. The planting and caring
for can mostly be done with machinery,
the fodder making the best OF ensilsge.
The producing capacity of most farms
can be kept up and increased by keeping
lot of cows and swine, raising corn
for siloing, feeding literally OF Western
grain, shorts, cotton seed oil meal, etc.,
and last, but not least, saving all the
weddings, both liquid and solid, Of every
animal on the premises.
| p GOOGINS