Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-08-03
BOARD BULLETIN FOR JULY.
THE PASTURE PROBLEM.

AUGUSTA, July II, 1897.
In this bulletin for July we have tried
to get from our correspondents, 10 ad-
dition 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 OF
value In the many suggestions which
they contain. The pasture problem Is
one Of the utmost Importance TO all
farmers, and as our live stock increases
it will continue to demand their increased
attention.
The question Of soiling stock Ia sum-
mer Is coming more and more TO the
front, and In sections near our larger
cities and villsges where land Is compar
stiyely high, its merits deserve careful;
attention. or course il has disadvan-
tages as well advantages. Among these
may be mentioned, the increased labor
necessary, and the larger amount OF care
required TO plan for succession OF soil-
ing crops which will give continual
supply of food for the season; these are
really the only serious questions To be
considered.
On the other side, We have an incress-
ed amount Of stock larger stock car
ryiDy capacity for the farm, and Larger
smouut Of farm fertilizer.
These questions, carried along with
the best methods OF maintaining our
pastures, will enable the farmer to carr
his full quota Of stock through the sum-
mer months with profit.
NUMBER oF LIVE STOCK.
From the returns OF the town asses
sors, rs f.r ss they have been receive !
hy the state assessors, We learn that
ther" Is n marked Increase In l-yeai -olos
and 2-year-old-. and decrease In the
number of cows, large numbers having
been sold Ia go out OF the stste within
the lss, year. We trust this reduction
nav soon be- stopped, and the increase
which the returns on l.yeir-olis and =
,ear- olds would Indicate msv continue
and result In AN increase in the number
OF cows within the present year.
GOVERNMENT CRor REPORT.
We quote the following from the gov
erLment crop report for June:
The report OF June /, consolidated
from the returns of township, county
and state correspondents OF the depart
ment, making the scresge OF winter
wheat al present growing, after allow
sncc for aoandcnments, SIC pr cent OF
the area harvested last year, or 80 per
cent of the area sold In the fall OF 1896.
This 10 round numbers Is 2l,562 600
acres. The condition OF winter wheat
has fallen since the report Of May /, be-
ing .s.5 per cent sgsipst 500 on that
date, decline Of IL points. The con-
ditiou on June last year was ...9. The
percentage of spring wheat area for the
eu,ire country ss compared with that OF
ls96 has been increased, being ITO per
cent OF last years acreage. The total
area IL spring wheat sown ia. therefore,
in round numbers, l3,000,0 900 acres, and
the combined winter and spring area Is
81. .569. 600 acres. or 999 per cent Of that
harvested In 1896. The condition OF
spring wheat shows an average for the
whole country OF 500 per cent. The
condition OF all wheat Is s2.1, against
81 q per cent the same date last year.
"The preliminary report places the
acreage OF oats at 1913 per cent OF last
years area, and makes the condition 80
per cent against 9S.S last June.
Acreage Of rye is 93 per cent OF last
years; condition of rye, 500 per cent !;
acreage of barley, 922 per cent OF last
years; condition Of barley June !, 5. 1
per cent; acreage Of rice, l03.l per cent I;
condition, 9S.S per cent"
SUMMARY FOR OXFORD COUNTY.
Condition OF the hay crop, 100 per
cent. Condition Of pastures, LOG per
cent; no improvements: pastures not
depended upon as much ss formerly.
Amount of soiling crops, 9s per cent.
Condition Of oats, 81 per cent; mixed
grain, S6 per cent; barley, IS per cent !;
rye, 80 per cent; sweet corn. ~ per
cent; yellow corn, 81 per cent; pota-
toes. 81 per cent: apples. IS per cent !;
plums. - per cent; strawberries, 10 per
cent; raspberries, 90 per cent; black
berries, log per cent; other small fruits,
96 per cent.
GENERAL AVERAGE FOR THE STATE.
Condition Of the hay crop. % per cent.
Condition OF pastures, 100 per cent.
Slight improvements noted In nearly
every county, mostly through clearing
from bushes; also tendency to put less
dependence upon pastures for exclusive
summer feed. Amount OF soiling crops,
90 per cent. Condition Of oats, 81 per
cent; mixed grain, So per cent; barley
81 per cent; rye, y per cent; sweet
corn, 64 per cent; yellow corn, 66 per
per cent; potatoes, 20 per cent; apples,
50 per cent; plums, 43 per cent; straw
berries, so per cent; raspberries, 50 per
cent; blsckberries, 81 per cent; other
small fruits, 81 per cent.
OXFORD COUNTY.
PARIs-Many of our back pastures, as
well as our farms, are slowly but surely
growing to bushes. More grain and
green fodder Is fed through the summer
month, and farmers do not depend upon
their pastures as they did years ago.
More cows are kept and farmers have
learned by experience that there Is no
profit in them unless they are well fed
and cared for. We are satisfied We can
make more cream by feeding cotton
seed and bran than any other feed. The
next best results are from gluten meal.
| would prefer stock TO remain In the
pasture through the summer when the
feed Is good. But few pastures could
well be ploughed in this section. No
grass gives better results, either dry or
green, than clover.
II. ID. HAMMOND.
PARIs-There are but few pastures In
this section that can be included in the
rotation. Very much can be done, how
ever, ia their Improvement, AS most OF
them are allowed to take care OF them
selves. Go into them with an axe and
brush hook, pile all Of the worthless
brush so cut, and burn it, and the
"pasture problem" would be solved In q
great many instances. stable my cows