Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-04-04
GETTING ON IN FARMING.

4
In these days Of much science and OF
much writing by the many able men
whose pens are so often used aud seldom
dry, IL seems almost like presumption
for an old farmer like me TO say any.
thing or 10 give any opinion In regard "a
the way OF conducting any Of the vari-
Gus branches pertaining to the manage
ment OF n farm. Yet, being an old
farmer in years and experience, and one
that knows what IL Is to begin with old
buildings, a worn out farm and mort
gage OF almost its sxlable value sad
died on top, venture TO express some
OF my ideas, especially ss have got out
of the woods with good buildings, pro-
ductive farm, snd money enough In nv
pocket to pay all outstanding bills. Il
Is under such condition that will
give some OF nv ideas In regard TO get
ting on in farming. And, by the way, 1t
IL just like
GETTING on IN EVERYTHING ELSE,
oy sticking to IL, putting thought, ener-
gy, care and grit into it. Yes, grit. and
that is a good quality, anywhere aud
everywhere. Yes, and another good
thing 10 put into farm work, as well as
into all other work, is TO do IL in season
and do II well.
NV present purpose, however, Is To
speak OF my way OF managing small
herd OF cows; not that do II very well
or attempt 10 push them 10 the extreme
limit Of production. For perhaps ten
years, hsve kept from six 70 eleven
cows, coming fresh late In the fall or
early 10 the winter. NV hay Is, or st
least intend IL shall be, cut early.
give as much OF the hay as they will eat
clean, supplemented with corn fodder
early In winter, with noon foddering OF
straw, II have IL. | don't use ensilsge.
have fed nearly all kinds OF the meals
and feeds in the time. have kept win
ter cows with results fairly satisfactory.
The present winter was met with the
problem OF how 70 feed my cows with
profit at the butter market Ms low as
butter was. tried gluten and bran
gluten, Indian meal and bran, cottonseed
gluten and bran, cottonseed and Indian
meal, bat finally settled on Indian meal
and brsn, and 10 other grain feed, feed
ing as nearly as Can ; l-2 quarts Indian
corn and quarts bran 10 each COW,
making two feeds per day.
Nov this Is not heavy feeding, bat !
certainly am keeping my grain bill lower
than nv cream check. As l said, nv
cows were fall cows. The nine am now
milking were all so, and this month Of
February, up 10 this, the 22d, find my
cream card shows
LARGER NUMBER OF SPACES THAN
for any twenty-one days of any previous
month. Nv cows are not only In perfect
health st present, but with my way OF
taking care OF them, have always been
every day, in nv experience with winter
cows. Ny tie-up Is Whist may be called
cold. IL freezes cold nights. My cows
90 out To drink and drink cold water. NV
own idea Il this: that an aaimsl In good
health with plenty 10 eat suffers very
little on account Of cold. | am often
asked IL IL paws TO keep cows under
present conditions. | will tell little OF
nv own experience. A few years ago
put out some seven hundred dollars on
my buildings. when GOT them done
was owing one hundred dollars. 1 had
the money 10 paw Il. knew parties To
whom 10 Was due had rather not have IL
NJ the time, and as IL was coming winter
| az first thought | might be- little
short of money 10 paw grocery and other
needed bills wouldn't pay IL, but hsd
eight fresh cows. thought l would
see what they would do u help me out,
so went aud paid the hundred dollars,
and found they paid their meal bills,
INV grocery bills and that somehow hsd
A DOLLAR OR so IN NY POCKET
all the time. The point si-h to make is
that by keeping cows snd giving them
proper care, aud by proper care do
not mean excessive grain feeding nor
such confinement IS would endsnger
human life or health, that farmer can
keep his head above water, pay his way
as hr goes and not be sll the time pes
tered with little bills and nothing 20 pay
With only his uext years product, all due
b. fore even they are planted or gathered.
Such farmer hss little % say and but
little 10 care about hard times. For
though he nav have hut little, what he
has il his, and Il need trouble him but
little whether IL blow hot or blow cold.
Geo. F. Hammond In Maine Farmer.