Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-08-26
NEW ENGLAND BEEF RAISING.
PROF. j. W. sANBoRN OF GILMANToN
TELLS WHY BEEF is HIGH AND HOW
EASTERN FARMERS CAN RAISE 1T AS
PRoFITABLY AS wEsTERNERS.

TELLS WHY BEEF is HIGH AND HOW
EASTERN FARMERS CAN RAISE IT AS
| PRoFITABLY AS wEsTERNERs.
In its crop report for July the Massa-
chusetts state board of agriculture prints
an article on Beef Production in New
England" by Prof j. W. Sanborn of Gil
manton, formerly director of the Mis-
souri, and Utah agricultural experiment
stations.
| Professor SanbOrn asks: "Are the
present prices of beef and the promising
outlook for beef production in New Eng
land due to permanent causes, or are
they based upon transitory conditions?'
He answers the query in part, by saying
1T is probable that the corn shortage of
1901 of nearly one-half the usual pro-
duction has aided the natural tendency
to enchanced prices of beef, and that a
return TO normal crops will have mod
flying influence on prices of meat prod
ucts. The basic cause of the present un-
satisfactory prices of meats is found in
a constantly decreasing ratio of meat ami
mails to population. From 1892, when
the number of meat animals in the Unit
ed States reached high water mark, there
has been steady decrease in the total
number raised for the ShambleS, in round
numbers, from 1873 100000 in 1892 TO
| l04 ,OOO, 900 in 1890. The great live stock
markets have shown this year, despite
the allurement of exceedingly high prices
$50 per 100 pounds live weight in
Chicago), a marked decrease in receipts
over last year and over preceding years
for nearly decade. The constant rise
in prices from Sl406 per head for cattle
in 1895 to S22.79 in 1899, failed to induce
an increase in numbers, or even TO check
the phenomenal decrease of stock.
When the ranges became occupied in full
a great increase of range-fed cattle in
eastern markets occurred. Prices went
down to rates impossible to duplicate
by eastern feeders at profit. AT last
the readiustment of cattle to range ca
pacity is practically completed, upon a
basis of greatly reduced numbers in the
face of rapidly increasing population,
and constant absorption of range area
into tillage farms. The range as mer-
ace to beef production on farms has pass
ed into history.
at is possible to grow as much beet
per acre in New England, at as good
profit TO one who produces the food con-
sumed, as is grown westward. We may
feel assured that the higher range of
prices is to prevail for these reasons:
First. population is rapidly increasing,
while beef production is stationary or
losing ground; second, the vast free
range area has been absorbed and its
beef production is on a heavy decline;
third, the corn-growing area of the West
found beef production under past rates
unremuuerative and reduced its herds;
fourth, worldwide economic forces, in
crease of gold per capita, decline in rates
of new lands, increased ratio of urban
population and the general rise of pur-
chasing power-tend to rise in all farm
products. When the free ranges poured
upon us their first and fullest products,
beef mutton and wool production in the
East became discouraged. The butter
type of COW came in and the beef type
went out. In great strides the West
passed us in the art of breeding and feed
ing for beef
The moral for New England farmers
is pointed in the following: successful
beef production in New England must
rest upon: First, more intensive agri-
culture; second, better bred steers,-th
good steer; third, better fed steers
early maturity; fourth, better pastures.
Good pastures and the richer and more
varied foods of tillage rotation are
prerequisites to the successful introduc
ton of the good steer, and his early ma
hn or
matured, profitable beef raising in the
East is utterly hopeless. A good steer
must have form, deep and broad in the
twist or thighs, thick through the crops
or behind the fore shoulders, broad
across the loins, well sprung ribs and
straight round barrel. A dairy type of
steer will not sell within l to 3 cents as
much per pound as the beef type. Early
maturity is the one factor of supreme
Importance in beef production. Steers
in the East should be in their prime at
from 20 to "a months. The good type of
steer can be sold at full market rates at
less weight and therefore in less time
than the poor type. In feeding the
heavy percentage of the ration required
for maintenance it is imperative that
start TO finish. | am not friendly to
heavy grain feeding, but rather to con-
tinuous grain feeding from birth to
slaughter.
The business of farmingin New Eng
land is that of crop growth, stock feed
ing being method of acquiring the
manure TO feed the crops. l am conf
dent that the good breeder and feeder
will secure his plant food for crop growth
cheaper by beef production than in the
form of purchased fertilizers. l hold
that at current rates for the best beef, or
even for a slightly reduced rate, up to
1900 pounds weight properly bred and
fed, beef making will afford fair mar
ket for our crops, and the good steer may
become competitor of other live stock.
This bulletin may be secured on appli-
cation to the Hon. j. w. Stockwell, sec
retary state board of agriculture, at the
Massachusetts, state house.
CHANGES ON THE FARM.
In the country change does not come
as fast as in urban districts-the old
order is Inclined to linger. This is il
lustrated fairly in forms of speech. In
the language of slang, slang has almost
'.queered" some good old English words
among town people. In rural places the
traveller will not infrequently hear where
least expected strong, vigorous express
sions as they were used by Shakespeare
and Johnson.
But innovations are gradually invad-
ing sylvan ways. The other day farm
er was trying to persuade conservative
fellow-farmer who was opposed to rail
roads to vote for proposition, and said
why, sir, your father used to go to the
mill sittin' ON his cart-tongue with bag
of corn on the bolster. have seen you
90 in a buggy with your turn In
twenty years from now I'll bet your son
will load up a balloon and sail to the
mill that way That expresses the rapid