Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-03-13
TIMELY PROBLEMS ON A HILLTOP
FARM.

The great rain that occurred Feb. l:
aud since my notes on winter spplic .
tion OF manure, Hgain reminds me mos,
forcioly that agriculture Is as yet but
blending OF experiment and science.
This years February rsin, scarcely
matched Ia century, knocked q
smithereens the finely balanced reason,
upon which winter application of ms
nure Is founded.
The volume OF running water carried
by sheer physical force from inclined
land an amount of manure that would
have paid round price for teams tc
draw II out and incorporate it with the
soil In May. Yet the account for de-
csde might fall within the lines Of INV
logic supporting winter drawing and
spreading OF manure. But il hurts hard
when the Tooth yesr comes around and
sweeps away the food for prospective
crops. The pout at the foot Of Wilson
farm Is an odotous reminder that winter
rains may roo the fields. But have my
compensation In the irrigsting canals
that later will conduct these scented
waters to the southern slope OF the farm
have Just closed the annual ice hsr-
vest OF the farm. Ice Is free and abundsn,
10 New England, yet outside OF dairy
farms IL Is regarded as a dispenssole
luxury. On milk farms of which
product Is sold to Boston contractors,
its requirement by contractors Il con-
sidered arbitrary. Both points OF view
.. shNrr sirhtaI The con,rac,.r 49,
maintain himself against his competitor
and continue to buy Of US, only by sell
ing as good Squslity Of milk as Others
sell. Every milk producer Is vitality
interested in the success Of the local
contractor, and all OF Us are interested
Ia placing sound milk on the market.
Good, sweet milk Is consumed in larger
quantities than that which Is OFF flavor.
Ice rightly used on a milk farm means
fewer bacteria in milk, less Of incipient
decay, purer milk flavor and larger
consumption Of milk.
FARMERS DESERVE THE BEST.
IL ice l. q luxury, add one more luxury
70 farm life. The capacity OF a people
seldom outruns its wants. It is an
error for farmers 10 seek net incomes by
bsnishing desires. This Is a mild pro-
test against the philosophy Of q certain
school Of farm writers who ask US to live
low when the sge Is living high. Such
q view Is q look downward that can have
but one ending. IL We are 10 hold our
heads up, be proud OF our calling and
hold our boys TO farming, we must put
brains enough into our business 10 sf-
81 hs.r Aw-s
agreement are the essentials of our day
None will understand me TO advocate q
gewgsw life; restless pursuit OF va
riety and things harmful TO mental and
physical health. We are In the best OF
the ages and should profit By il. The
capacity TO make life broad Is in our
farms and in ourselves. Let US use both
and take our share OF good things.
TO SELL HAY OR NOT TO SELL.
The farm teams are to-day at market
with hsy, some Is miles away. This Is
= violation Of the cardinal principle OF
the farm decSlog. But applied science
in our times is swinging free from old
traditions. A ton OF hay brings a ton OF
bran, and ton Of bran contains more
than twice the protein for cows and nj
trogen for the soil that is found In ton
OF hay, and IL is more digestible, TOO.
This justities the exchange. Even were
II otherwise, l should sell the hay.
Chemicals, good markets for animal
products, rotations, modern tillsge and
modern tools, muck, clover, etc, make
clear the way for hay sales when, rs
now, at sl7 10 sis per ton, the price
justifies selling. Hay carries of con-
siderable fertility, but takes away but
little muscle. No crop requires so little
effort 20 raise il, and the gain here OF
sets the loss In fertility. Ii would re
Quire some space fully 10 show this con-
ciusion, and | content myself with the
assertion.
But the price has bearing. When
cannot net Si2 at the barn, | prefer TO
feed the hay; as NJ this price, In good
feeders hands, IL becomes one OF the
cheap sources OF plant food. The theo-
rrticsl value of foods for manure has
been made enough of, yet IL has its
VALUABLE side. After due allowance the
value Of the manure from ton OF hay
compared with the cost Of chemicals
assume 70 De sbout S3 75 A ton of hay
will produce l-2 tons of manure, sno
this is worth 81 80 a ton, II chemicals
are worth their cost.
BUSY TEAMS ARE CHEAPEST.
The cost of delivery of hay offers an
opening for endless discussion. Throw
away the fsllscy of charging up th.
teams 20 the farm at profit, and regard
them as a factor In the business 10 oe
rated at cost, and accept this cost 70 be
the maintenance, depreciation, risk, iu-
terest. cost of harness and wagons, oi
leaning In idle DAYS. and we arrive III