Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-10-03

for the purpose Of raising oxen, beef.
milk or butter. Cross them wlth foil
biooded Hereford bull, and think he
will come near getting what he wants
for beef or oxen. A our farm work ut
the present time is 90 largely done with
machines that eeem TO require the horse.
| hardly think the farmers Of Maine will
ever 20 back to the use OF oxen to carry
on the farm. l.. 7. BRETT.
OXFORD COUNTY.
PoRTER.-I believe that the growing
Of beef animals, especially oxen for
wort and beef, and the growing OF cows
for milk, should command the attention
Of the majority Of the farmers Of this
state more generally than it does at the
present time. There are no better graz
Ing lands In New England for them to
roam over during our summer seasons
than are TO be found on the hlllsides 10
Maine. Steers and heifers can be grown
on the farm at small expense. Heifers
ut two years old, II not wanted for cows,
sell very readily at good prices for beef.
Steers can be trained to work by the
boys (snd II will be fun for them, and
when three years old, and often at two,
can be made TO earn, or nearly earn, all
II will cost to keep them, and II matched
will bring tip-top prices ut any time.
Keep them until they are five or SIX
years old, II you have work for them to do
to pay for their keeping (and most every
farmer does). You then have pair OF
oxen, with q very little extra keeping.
that every farmer will like and that will
bring an extra price for whatever place
they arc desired to al, " II be either for
work or beef. think farm work Can be
done with home-raised steers to great
er extent than nov to good advantage
and at a profit. think q Durham and
Hereford make good cross, either for
work or beef. They are gentle and kind,
usually, 10 all places and easily taught.
They usually make good mixers, are Of
q good color, and grow to . size above
the average for steers to grow.
A. II. MASON.
SWEDEN Il believe the Hereford 10
the beat stock q farmer can keep. II
calves are sold for veal they bring the
best prices. They are the best TO match
for steers, will mature quickly and are
easy to fstten, also show good quarters.
There IL difference In Herefords. Some
are good mixers, and show q good bag.
I have some grade Durham and Here
ford cows and some full-blood Here
fords, and q full-blood Hereford bull
from which have raised some good
stock. believe the best method 40 TO
marketing stock Ia for the farmer TO
use his own Judgment and let them 60
when he gets his price, whether Of home
or abroad. At the present day, ~ there
are not so many boys TO train the steers
on the farms as there used TO be, be-
lieve, rs man has to have a pair OF
horses to nov and the like, II is better
70 do the work with horses and sell the
steers; calves bring almost as much as
when grown up. s. l.. PLUMMER.
SuMNER.-I think there Ia great
chance for profitable farming with home
grown steers, especially for the small
farmers who keep only one horse and
never have team suitable for farm work
or for making any Improvement on their
farms, such as clearing stone from the
fields and other work they would do IL
they owned = steer team, but will never
think of hiring team TO do. Aud In
the end they would realize living profit
for raising the team. There are lots OF
such farms, and with q homegrown
team the labor OF harvesting the hay
crop could be reduced one-half In ten
years time. IL. DAVIS.
DIxFIELp.- IL beyond question that
there are many available places where
beef animals can be raised 70 advantage
and profit. Those having an ample hay
supply, and good pssturage, perhaps
somewhat distant from the house, with
the farm itself located outside OF con-
venlent communication with railroad,
etc, would find them q profitable source
OF income. For those having necessary
equipments, ETC., and well situated, with
a good dairy, should hardly think II
advisable 20 make change; though II
would be good thing for the dsiryman
to have some engaged In beef raising,
some producing milk for the condensed
milk factories and others making cheese
In fact, not to hsve all doing the same
thing. believe to-day the Durham cat
tie for general farm purposes are ahead
Of any others, as there are so many
places that they can be made to all. For
team purposes, the OK could be used to
far greater profit than the large lumber
ing horse so popular Of late, particularly
on small farms. Then q pair OF good
sslable oxen at regular times would be q
certain source of income, which Is not
true OF the horse team. The beef ques-
ton is one OF condiiions-perhxps Ca
pable Of much greater extension.
K. J.. ToRREY.
PARIS We have always kept the
good old-fashioned team, oxen and
steers, on the farm TO do our work. We
intend to raise pair OF steers every
spring, and by so doing have Q pair Of
oxen or steers TO sell either for work or
beef. We can do our work with oxen,
and get good growth on them, and
when we are ready to sell, nearly every
time we got q good profit. Durhams or
grade Hereford make the best oxen either
for work or beef. We have been well
satisfied with the raising OF steers and
shall continue the working Of oxen on
the farm ss long rs the prices are as
good a. at the present time.
H. d. HAMMOND.
SOUTH WArERFoRD.-I believe the
majority Of farmers in Maine would
make more money by raising oxen for
beef, and doing their farm work with
them. / would like the secretary's views
In regard to this subject.
C. 8. HAMLN.
YORK COUNTY.
NORTH WATERBoRO.-The sharp COM
petition, amounting to almost crush
ing monopoly, % long prevailing 10 the
West, had almost killed the courage Of
the Eastern farmers for raising beef, but
the present outlook brightens; and the
subject for the September bulletin seems
very properly to claim our attention,
especially that Of the average farmer
located some distance from good mar
ket, and who has but little help. think
the man living on our billy, rocky farms,
who has plenty Of good pasturing may
find Q decided advantage In raising
young stock, that may each year give
him pair or more OF good fat beef oxen
to sell, and procure money to meet his
present needs, or to lay by to help him
out when old age comes on. Some other
correspondent may plan for the man
who lacks pasture. Sheep raising may
be more profitable In some localities.
Judging from the large number, and
fsncy price, Of Whitehead steer calves
that have been raised the past year or
two, and the small crop of hay, one may
suppose that the business may speedily
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