Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-06-04
ABOUT FEEDING sIuEEs

Il
The government report at this writing
indicates winter wheat crop of 420,-
00O, 900 to 440,000,000 bushels, and the
conditions in the spring wheat states are
favorable barring the lateness of the
season. Should the winter wheat crop
reach such total and the spring wheat
crop be an average one the crop of 1901
would exceed 100000, 900, while the re-
serve from the crop of 1900 will swell
the available total to about 100, 600, 600
bushels for use during the coming twelve
months.
The needs of the country are supplied
by about 450, 900, 900 bushels a year and
there is liable to be surplus of great
magnitude. Unless the European de-
mand is unusally large we may see very
low prices for wheat, which would mean
a reduction in the price of flour and in
the price of mill feeds, which enter SO
largely into the feeding supply of dairy
farmers. Of course all these calculations
may be upset by unfavorable weather
conditions or by the depredations Of
some insect pest before the wheat crop
is harvested, but barring these we will
probably harvest one of the largest
wheat crops ever known.
Our leading thought in calling atten-
ton to this matter is the great advan-
tage low priced mill feed will be to the
eastern farmer. A reduction of So or s.
ton in the cost of this feed will make
a great difference in the amount that
will be fed and in the cost of the product
therefrom. 1t will also make differ
ence in the fertility of farms, for the
liberal feeding of nitrogenous grains
means the application of increased crop
food and increased soil fertility. Ruin
Gus as low-priced wheat may be to the
western wheat grower the eastern dairy
man reaps a profit from low-priced by
products that are sure to be available
from great wheat crop.
This prospect should not deter the
farmers from planting the usual acreage
of corn, for the corn crop is needed
whatever may be the price of nitrogen
Gus feeds. The improved business con-
ditions and general increased demand for
farm products thereby should stimulate
the keeping of an increased number OF
animals, and the growing of an increased
amount of feed. However low the price
for western grown corn may be the farm
er5 of New England whose land is adapt
ed to the use of machinery can produce
it cheaper than it costs to buy it, and
the acreage of corn should be increased.
The indications now point to good hay
crop, and with good supply of corn and
low priced bran and middlings the farm
ers will be in better condition next win
ter to feed at profit than for several
years.
We are aware that this prediction is
based upon considerable uncertainty,
for the hay crop may yet be cut short,
the wheat crop damaged and the corn
crop cut off by droughts or floods, but
the farmer who succeeds in any line of
farming is the one who goes ahead with
courage and determination to make
available every opportunity for success.
Disappointments will be met OCCASION
ally for they are inevitable in every busi-
ness, but the fear of these does not deter
people of energy from grasping the situ-
alton at the start and making a bold
effort to reach the goal. There has not
been a more Opportune time for increas-
ing the cultivated area of the farm and
the number of farm animals than the
present. More crops, more stock and
more machinery mean more business for
the grocer, blacksmith and every other
country business or profession and more
dollars for the farmer if intelligently
directed and closely followed. We be-
lieve this advice is good whether the
price of wheat is high or low, but low
priced by-products will make it still
more important and valuable.-Mirror
and Farmer.