Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-21
FARM LIFE M JERSEY AND
HltE 0ACEN

GUERNSEY.
Asriculturists visiting Europe should
not fail to take = tour In the English
Channel islands, Of which Jersey and
Guernsey are the principal. Here they
viii see some primitive methods still ip
forcv, bur they will see how much may
be made out Of small space IL farmed
10 a thorough and careful way.
Tue climate is early In these Islands.
with fair amount OF sunshine, not much
frost and a moderate amount OF rain.
No hay stacks are to be seen, and the
islands nearly all use peat moss ss bed
ding for their cattle. la both islands
they make the most of the sunlight by
erecting large glass houses. thus putting
mos; Of the land to the growth of grapes.
tomatoes, etc, without using artificial
heat. They also grow early spring
flowers, chiefly dsffodils, nsrcissi, iri.,
ixas, freesias, ETC., large quantities OF
which are seut daily TO the principal
English towns. Kidney potatoes are also
shipped 20 England In immense guam
titles. and go large IL their growth 10
Jersey that their expectation gives the
chief success 10 its port.
With their cattle they are very sue
cessful, chiefly through skillful msnsge-
ment. The Channel island csttle are
mixers essentially, and are treated as
such. protected from bad weather, fed
rather spsrsely, but kept warm In ship
pens Cow sheds) In winter and tethered
on the fields In spring aud summer,
made to eat up their allowances profit
ably, yielding lsrge supply OF very
profitable milk at the least cost OF pro-
duction. The islanders treat their cattle
very kindly, each being spoken to by
name. taught, commanded, rarely scold-
ed aud never abused. Throughout the
islands cattle are very plentiful and very
similar both In feature and disposition
All heifer calves are reared; veal and
beef come mostly from other lands. but
none 20 live Only Ireland Is allowed to
import cattle. and they have TO be killed
within five days Of landing. In Jersey
the butter is always Of good color, al
though Il Il sometimes very soft, occa-
siousliy full Of wster, sometimes hard
and granular. The whole milk gener-
slly Is churued. II is shut up In cup
board or close room for three days. often
for ak, 20 ripen or get ready for churn-
ing. and in various ways exposed 10 loss,
ss IL only indifferent quality OF butter
wss sought. The best butter Ia made In
Guernsey, 10 we may Judge from market
values. being sbout SOC. 10 6oc. per
pound In Guernsey, and 3oc. TO 36c. per
pound Of seventeen ounces In Jersey.
Land is very expensive Ia both Islands
and consequently house rent is dear.
Living IL fairly chesp as compared with
New York city or Philsdelphis. Wages
are about the same as In England, or,
say 81 20 81 week for 4 day laoorer.
These islanders all desire TO live upon
their own land, and that necessarily
creates n keen demand for the land aud
sn artificial value, as almost everyone
with money buys some land snd puts up
glass houses The islands are used ss
seaside resorts By visitors from England,
especially in the spring. The language
spoken i psiois, not pure French, but
mixture OF Normandy and Brittany
French. The towpspeople all speak
English. The French coast is only one
half an hours steam from some points,
snd in the case OF war between England
and France, the Channel islands will be
the first 10 feel the efiects.-F. c. Cap
pell. Island OF Jersey, In New England
Homestead.