Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-07-30

/
nailed with eight-penny wire nails, and
: then covered with good quality OF
building paper, with edges carefully
Tapped and with marks upon 1t to show
where the boards join underneath. After
doing this, the corner planks, with edges
beveled so as to fit nicely, may be stood
up, and these covered with paper, after
which the inside boarding may be put
on in much the same way as the first.
The same provisions for door should
be observed rs would be in building an
ice house, and it may be secured in much
the same way. AS finishing touch, the
bottom of the silo should be cemented
so as to represent somewhat the bottom
of kettle, the cement coming up the
sides nearly to top of sills. This will
prevent any damage from slight settling.
WHOLE OR CUT ENsILAGE.
For several years we put our ensilage
in whole, with fairly good results; so
much so that we continued the practice
from year to year. While sweet corn
fodder or small growing corn only was
grown, we thought this the most econ
omical method Finally, desiring to
grow larger variety of corn, and hav-
ing from observation become convinced
that cutting into the silo was desirable,
in the spring of 1898 we planted the
Sanford Ensilage corn, and concluded to
provide ourselves with cutting machin-
cry. The corn grew finely, and early in
the fall we procured 13-inch Ohio en-
silage cutter and three-hOrse power
gasoline engine. This cutter was set to
cut one-half inch lengths, and the corn
was run from it on an elevator into the
silo through hole in the roof. We
were surprised at the economy of filling
in this way, and found that the silo
could be filled with 20 per cent, less
expense than when the corn has been
put in whole. This fact, taken with the
largely increased capacity of the silo
when the corn was cut in, convinced us
that filling with whole corn should never
be practiced except when it isss imprac-
ticable to cut it in.
| When we came to open and feed, we
| found additional evidence to convince
us of the economy of cutting corn into
the silo rather than putting it in whole.
AVERAGE FOR ANDRoscOGGIN COUNTY.
Condition of the hay crop, compared
with average at this season of the year,
| llO per cent. Condition of pastures,
compared with average, ll9 per cent.
Very little improvement noted in past
ures from former years. Pastures are
not depended upon as much as formerly
for the exclusive feeding of stock
through the summer, in most instances.
Amount of soiling crops, compared with
average, 80 per cent. Condition of grain
and hoed crops, as compared with aver
age: Oats, Sc per cent; mixed grain,
95 per cent; barley, 101 per cent; sweet
corn, IS per cent; yellow corn, IS per
cent; potatoes, "a per cent. Condition
of fruit, as compared with average:
Apples, so per cent; plums, % per cent;
strawberries, 102 per cent; raspberries,
lO3 per cent; blackberries, 92 per cent.
| AVERAGE FOR OXFORD COUNTY.
Condition of the hay crop, III per
cent. Condition of pastures, lO1 per
cent. Improvements noted, little
clearing by cutting bushes, etc, in some
sections. Pastures are not depended
upon as much as formerly in many To-
calities. Amount of soiling crops, 1Ol
per cent Condition of oats, 80 per cent;
mixed grain, 95 per cent; barley, 81 per
cent; rye, 81 per cent; sweet corn, 81
per cent; yellow corn, 90 per cent;
potatoes, 80 per cent; apples, AZ per
cent; plums, is per cent; strawberries
IS per cent; raspberries, 93 per cent;
blackberries, 80 per cent; other small
fruits, 80 per cent. q.
GENERAL AVERAGE FOR THE STATE.
Condition of the hay crop, 1O2 per
cent. Condition of pastures, 1O3 per
cent. In most counties no special i'm
plovements from former years are re-
ported Pastures are not usually de-
pended upon as much as formerly for the
exclusive feeding of stock through the
summer. Amount of soiling crops, lO3
per cent. Condition of grain and hoed
crops: Oats, 81 per cent; mixed grain,
9S per cent; barley, 9S per cent; rye, S4
per cent; sweet corn, 80 per cent; yell
low corn, 50 per cent; potatoes, 93 per
cent. Condition of fruit: Apples, % per
cent; plums, 80 per cent; strawberries,
81 per cent; raspberries, % per cent;
blackberries, 80 per cent; other small
fruits, "a per cent.
THE BOY ON THE FARM.
The Secretary of Agriculture has ask
ed me to prepare a short letter address
ed to "The Boy Upon the Maine Farm"
He has suggested several topics which
this letter may touch, but my official
position leads me to confine myself
closely to agricultural education.
The question is often asked, "Why do
the boys leave the farm?" repeat this
question, not with the intention of
answering it, but to preface the state
ment, that, though many boys do leave
the farm, more remain upon it, and that
my greatest present interest is the edu-
cation of this great body of young men
who are to be the future farmers of the
state.
Agricultural education presents two
antagonistic phases. On the one hand
there is the great faith in the usefulness,
and even the necessity of agricultural
education, evidenced in many ways, but
most strikingly by the interest in agri-
cultural education shown by all pro-
gressive agricultural organizations, like
the grange, by the abounding faith OF
those farmers whose success or official
position have made them most promi-
nent in the agricultural public, by the
support of the agricultural press; and
more than all, by the earnest agitation
which has led to the foundation of agri-
cultural colleges, and resulted in enor-
nous endowments for such education.
The United States and the state govern
meuts would never have put into state
colleges and universities great sums of
money for agricultural education if they
had not believed the investment bothiuse-
full and necessary. The land grant col
leges, though not established for the
sole benefit of agriculture. are more
closely associated, in the public mind,
with agriculture than any other industry.
The colleges now have an annual income
of s., $50, ,S54 go, and property aggregat-
ling 1926, 1870. These figures elo-
quently speak the faith of the American
people in agricultural education.
On the other hand, only very small
proportion of those who expect to fol-
low agriculture as business pursue
courses in the agricultural college. This
situation is most marked in the states in
which agriculture is not at its highest
point, but it is the situation in every
state.
| | care to draw only one conclusion
from these statements-the young farm
ers of Maine are not availing themselves
of an opportunity which the public De.
lieves is real and important one. II
the reader of this state ment is rejecting
Il y Il Iftrv.n