The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-06-23
The Stock Farm of Ed. Shibles.

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took occasion to visit the stock farm of
Ed. Shbles in Knox, and can assure your
readers that all lovers of good stock will
find themselves amply repaid for any
trouble that they may be at to visit the
place. The farm is the old homestead of
Mark Shbles, who for more than half a
century was known as one of the most
progressive and energetic farmers in
Waldo county. His horses, sheep and
cattle were we'll known as among the best
that ould be found in this vicinity. He
given up active life and the responsibility
devolves upon his son, who bids fair to
far exceed anything that his father has
ever done in the stock business. The farm
is located at Knox Station and has been
brought into fine condition by hard labor
and careful management. Unfortunately
the farm house was burned last winter,
but the barns and principal stables were
saved and new house is in course of
erection that will be nicer than the one
burned.
In going through the buildings we MOTTO
ed in particular the provisions for watering
the stock. In three places under cover were
tubs supplied with running water, and
to this, for one thing, may be attributed
| the nice condition of all the animals. The
man who persists in driving his stock out
| IL I- liza
barn, for water during the cold winter
months will find that lie is easily outclass-
ed by his neighbor who provides water in
a sheltered spot. With the same feed a
marked difference in the condition of the
animals will be seen, to say nothing of
the convenience in taking care of the
stock
Horses have for several years past been
poor property, but the class that Mr..
Shibles has around him may prove to be
an exception. There We're eleven i'll all,
and as clean and nice lot as one would
wish to see At the head Of the stable is
Purist, by Red Wilkes, sire of 1879 in the
2 30 class. and full brother to Pure
Wilkes, PHI II. This is handsome
bay horse, Ii hands high and Weighing
I1150 pounds He will without doubt
prove of great benefit to the horse
stock of this vicinity. BY reason OF his
size and kind disposition his colts must
prove valuable as business horses, even if
they fail to be trotteTs.
A two year-ol colt out of Gideon
mare by this horse, which Mr.. Shibles
showed us, is one of the very finest look
ing colts that we ever saw and must
prove a great advertisement for the horse.
Among the colts at the place are several
by some Of the best known horses in the
country Some of them Mr.. Shibles is
keeping for parties in Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, etc, and we will not par
ticularly describe them. We would, how
ever, call attention to the care given to
these colts. They are not turned out to
run over moving machines, horse rakes
old wagons, sleds, etc, but have good
box stalls on the ground and smoothly
ceiled, with no chance to injure them
selves, and every day they are turned out
into yard for water and exercise If our
farmers would generally provide such
places there would be fewer accidentally
ruined colts. But Mr. Shibles does not
put all his dependence upon horses, He
has flock of ~ Oxford Down sheep that
are worth seeing. From his Ramblett Ram,
which was got in Michigan, lie sheared
IS II los of clear wool with about ten
months growth. He has forty lambs.
/ some of them weighing 50 and SO pounds
They began to come in March They
have a special pen that they can run into
away from the sheep and are there given
about what they will eat of ground oats,
shorts, etc. He has one sheep from the
| Bennett stock farm that he claims is 10
years old, with nice lamb by her side
He has % head of horned cattle, and nice
clean looking set they are, too. They are
mostly jerseys, many of them thoroughbred
and some of them from noted herds
| 1t is worth the while to look the stock
over and see what money, combined with
skill and interest in the work, can accom-
plish. NJ. j. d.