Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-26

raising steers and heifers more profitable
than dairying and to make either pay re
quires good pasture, with q good sup
ply Of water. Then with good cured
grass for hay, corn ensilsge, and small
grains that can be raised on the farm,
see no reason why Il should not be
success. Our fathers had fat cattle,
sheep and horses. They did not 60
south or west to buy feed for them.
Would IL not be better II more prscticed
that way of doing now? l say, yes.
While our farm abouuds in clover there
are farms in town under good cultiva-
ton where clover seed has been sowu In
early spring, and makes a fair growth,
but none IL to be seen the next year.
WHY IL i,s GEO. w. ABBorT.
rNorE-Clover IL q biennial, and should show
itself for al least two years. That ts, 10 grove
and perfects the plant the nrst year. and natures
its seed the second year. The plant then dies,
and all that appears rom that sowing after
wards. either comes from accidental sowing or
from original plants which have been prevented
from maturing seed. II clover II cropped too
close the FIRST year. n win hardly survive the
winter; this may account for Its failure on the
farms indicated, or the soil may be too close and
not sufficiently drained. This will cause winter
Killing, or rather spring. killing, as the roots
freeze and thaw In spring. We can hardly un-
,ler-tand why u should fail under even condi.
tons.
DIxFIELD-The many substitutes for
hay, among which Is ensilage, which |
regard as essential TO the success OF
every farmer, make q large surplus OF
fodder. and this, with the low price OF
hay, would seem to indicate that We
should keep more stock and consume the
fodder on the farm, thereby adding to
the manure pile, and enabling US to false
our crops with less purchased fertilizer.
We should return to the method OF our
fathers, and SOW more peas and oats or
barley, thereby getting more protein
from the farm, and at the same time im-
proving the soil by raising nitrogen
gathering crops. We cannot afford to get
on with dairy without protein, neither
can we afford to purchase protein with
the present price Of butter.
GEo. II. NEWMAN.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
0rIsfIELp-Generally speaking, there
Is no other way 10 farm II In this locality,
than TO keep sufficient stock to consume
all the fodder grown on the farm. All
the hay that Is sold with US is what finds
\ local market; not any Is baled and
shipped away. As many farmers buy
hay as sell Il. But for once there seems
to be more fodder in sight than there is
stock 10 eat it, though sharp drought
from now out may yet make great
change In regard TO this. or our domes-
tic animals, cows are the most import
ant. The more cows we keep, the more
hogs We must have and the more prov
ender We must buy, consequently the
more and better manure is made, which
means more crops Of all kinds. OF
course this method is not best for every
locality and every Individual case. In
regard TO cows, am still OF the opinion
that We must not aspire wholly to butter
qualities. There would still be butter
enough for the demand IL much larger
per cent Of our cows tended more to beef.
| believe il is generally understood In
scientific circles, that the devastation Of
forests tends TO drought aud light rain
fall. How Is the theory made TO hsr-
monte with our rainfall for the last two
seasons: W. W. ANDREWS.
INorE-That the rainfall OF the last two sea
sons has been excessive cannot be disputed but
Il. without doubt, comes from sources iniepend-
ent OF forest growth That the cutting OF forests
has tended To lessen rainfall and lower the
general water level cannot. we believe, lie dis.
puted We also fear somewhat protracted
drought sometime during the present season.
and dcsire to take this opportunity to advise All
our readers to prepare for Il In every possible
way. Extra cultivation of all boed crops, and
extra care Of all fodder crops will surely pay for
before the year l9oo ~e may iind market eond,'
ton. materially changed. and a scarcity Of fcd-
der crops being reportcd-sEcRkrARr.