Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-09-27
AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN.
Interesting Letters from Hancock
County Farmers.

County Farmers.
The sixth bulletin Of the State board Of
agriculture fer 1899 contains the follow
ing interesting letters from Hancock
county farmers:
LJEHiLL-The breeding Of beef stock
viii always be tsV9rite occupation with
the Maine farmer. and judging from pres
ent market conditions, L should be en-
Outraged. In those sections " here dairy
ing i made profitable, It would proba bly,
be mistake to change for anything else,
a- dalryiAg " hen properly managed VIII,
no doubt, yield larger returns and exhaust
the farm less than almost any OF her
branch OF agriculture. In these days OF
small profits and close com petition, Il
would hardly be adv sable 10 make any
radical or costly change in the stock OF Il
farm, but, commencing with the best
COWS at ones command ana breeding to
some good representative Of any one Of
the heavier beef breeds, a good start in
the business can soon be made, at small
expense. II beef cattle and oxen are the
sole object, the Hereford. seem to be the
best adapted to the purpose, as they
mature quickly and are OF a quiet. tract
able disposition. The Durhams and Red
Polled cattle would be better " here fairly
good cows are wanted. on large farms
where there is all abundance OF fodder,
working oxen can be used to advantage
but on the average place II Is better to do
the work with horses, and the extra
amount OF feed that the oxen would con-
sumo could be fed to younger animals
with better results. An animal should
be htted for beef at as early all age as pos
sible. This gives quicker returns and
larger net profits. II. b. GRAY.
PENoBsCoT-I have had some experience
In raising stock in past years, and found it
paid to raise the best. | raised the Dur
ham, this WAS my favorite. Thirty years
ago We had some Of the best beef stock
that there was, in this part OF the State,
but 1t Is sadly changed now. Horses have
taken the place OF oxen, and the farmers
have missed 1t, think. Forty years ago
there were but two horses in this sect ion
OF the town. Now there are more than
forty horses and colts. At that time every
man hat owned small farm kept a large
pair OF oxen, and some two and three pairs.
Now there are i've pairs in the sameSec-
ton. think II would pay as well to raise
stock now as then il We had the same
material to work with. The last pair of
steers that / raised girted six feet when
less than two years old, and sold for SIS;
and 1t cost me but a trifie more to raise
them than to raise an ordinary pair. |
once took a calf in the winter and put him
by himself and fed him hay and oats one
quart ut first per day, then as he grew |
AuCIShStu II 10 Two anu one nail quarts per
day, and in thirteen months he grew
twenty-three inches, and when he was
four years old he girted seven and one
half feet. think the farmers will change
the programme and raise more beef st ock.
In raising calves let them take the MILK
from the COW unit ii they are from three to
four weeks old, then teach them to drink,
and there is no trouble in making them
grow two inches a month with good feed.
Ground oats and middlings are good
feed y. F. NORTON
LAMoINE-lt is certain that the business
of raising oxen, either for beef or work,
has, IN this and adjoining counties, suf-
fered decline. " bet her the conditions
which made Il heavy, slow moving team
desira ole have been removed Is somewhat
a question, but it Ii probable they have
not. The only questions as to the profits
OF increasing tins class of stock mast be
in regard to the ability TO get the heavy
breeds, TO feed and grow them at the
smallest possible cost consistent with
steady gain, and to have labor for Your
cIttie until they have attained their
greatest value for beef and last, home
market at the present good prices OF meat.
Can anyone tell Us he relative worth OF