The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-07-27
Somerset County.

Following is a communication received
by Sec'y McKeen from Somerset farmers
and published in Board Bulletin No 5.
SKOwHEGAN-Tw important branches
OF farming in Maine consist in keeping
sheep and swine but conditions must be
favorable, as the secretary wisely ex-
presses it. Not every farm is adapted TO
keeping sheep. 1t is well known that they
will not thrive on low, moist lands Our
upland farms. our stony hllsides are the
natural homes of the sheep family, Farm
ers occupying such lands can easily in.
crease their revenues by adding fiocks OF
sheep, or increasing their f1ocks, and the
secretary has a praiseworthy object in view
in endeavonng to spur them up in this
direction. As to swine, it is different.
Every farm is more or less benefited by
their presence. The farms of Maine do
not contain enough of them. Many more
of our farmers might make specially OF
swine raising with success if they would.
The old-faShioned arch and boiler with
the extra labor connected can be entirely
discarded and the products of the farm
fed raw. The White Chester is my favor
lite. Keep him thriving all the time till
he reaches from two hundred or three
hundred in weight. then transfer him to
pork. In these lively times it will not do
to keep old hogs except for breeding pur-
poses. Rush him from the start Good
care. comfortable quarters and generous
supply of feed adapted to his wants will
do it. Farmers of Maine, don't allow our
consumers to be obliged to look to the
West for so much of their pork There is
better way. Get in that way and stay
there. S. F. EMERSON.
FAIRFIELD have a grade of hogs,
White Chester and Berkshire, which
find to be profitable hog to keep, The
hogs mature at the age of 6 to 8 months.
They will weight at that age from $50 to
900 pounds. They are cheaply kept and
the meat is much finer grained and sweet
er than the full blooded White Chester.
am planning, at the present time, to get a
flock of sheep which shall pasture in my
orchard. | think it a great help to the
trees for sheep to run under them. | be-
lieve sheep, and also hogs, allowed to run
in an orchard, will be OF much benefit to
the trees, and source of income to the
owner, +. l.. HOWE.
PALMYRA-As to the breed of sheep
best adapted to our use, the Hampshire
Downs are fast taking the lead. They are
hardy, attain large size, show readi-
ness to take on flesh, are large breeders
and good mothers. know of no better
feed tor balance ration than June cut
clover hay, with cracked corn and shorts
met hafara and after thew dron their lambs
Believe they should be housed nights, sum
mer and winter. All things considered |
believe the last of April the most profit
able time for lambng, Think sheep are a
profitable branch OF stock husbandry, and
will keep up the fertility of the farm as
well as any stock if they are housed nights,
and if they are allowed the free use OF dry
muck so much the better. AS to swine,
except for their great industry, and value
in preparing stable dressing for use,
have nothing to say. J. P. LoNGLEY.
SOLoN--In this vicinity there are but
few hogs kept other than for home con-
sumption. save in one or two instances.
think that if hogs are to be kept for profit,
as a business, they should be kept dry and
clean. the profit is not all in the making
of pork, but the dressing is valuable part
of it. so think that with careful handling
swine can be made profitable. The right
kind of sheep is better, in my opinion, but
we must have good mutton sheep so as
to depend more on the lamb than the
wool. We keep our sheep dry and warm,
and should do the same by the hogs.
STEPHEN MERRILL.