Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-05-19
Leaks In Farm Management.

Leaks In Farm Management.
Leakagss of any kind are dangerou
enemies to the success. of any under
taking. Although slow in action, the.
are certain sooner or later to bring dis
aster.
Probably in no other industry is 81
much waste permitted as on the farm
These leakages may not be very visible
to the eye or may escape the notice o
the ordinary observer; they nevertheless
exist surely If silently carrying out
work of serious deterioration on tn
farm.
One of the chief leakages on the farm
is from manurial losses, in allowing ma
nure to be in open yards, exposed to tn
wettings of rain, and consequent loss o
its most valuable fertilizing elements il
the form of liquid. With the provision
of tight floors and drainage to receiv
ing tank or the use of some absorben
which when properly manipulated be
comes a valuable addition to the fertil
izing material of the farm, this grea
waste may be considerably lessened i
not altogether stopped. Another grea
leak on the farm is the neglect and con
sequent waste of machinery and tools
Instead of all implements that are finish
ed with for the season being carefully
overhauled, repaired and casfully housed
in fit condition for the next seasons
work, they are too often left where las
used or packed into some old leaky sheG
to rust and decay until when sprinE
comes again the farmer finds himself
handicapped with repairs and frequent
breakdowns, If not burdened with ar
extra expense in buying new imple
ments.
Again in the supervision of the live
stock of the farm, much loss may bt
avoided. Little leaks, at the time al
most imperceptible, in the aggregate
total up large. Animals properly
housed and fed ration adapted to theil
individual requirements will pay vel
for extra attention in increased returns
of milk, eggs, meat or work. Not to
have chickens hatched so as to mature
as layers when eggs are high in price
would be serious leakage in the profits
of poultry plant. So will the neglec,
of animals on the farm cause more leak
age. Look after the COWS on the farm
know how much milk each cow is Civ
ing, and If not up to the paying stand
ard, get rid of her and feed for one thai
will bring results. 1t costs no more In
food or care to keep the producer OF
G, 900 pounds of milk than the COW Civ
ing only 5000 pounds. These latter
sort make big leak in the farm profit
Likewise with the horses, stop any leak
in the stable by learning if they are well
and in condition for work. Keep up
their condition by we'll ventilated, com,
Portable quarters and proper feeding.
Examine their teeth to know if they can
properly masticate their food. Allow
no fermented material to lie around
their feed boxes, causing stomach OF
bowel troubles. Know that the food
you are giving is assimilating and giving
results. So with all livestock, see that
they have quarters and food adapted to
their requirements. Do not feed the in
calf cow that you expect to give a big
flow of milk when she freshens, the
same as the steer you are getting ready
for the butcher or the young stock that
you are wintering over for the summer
pastures. Keep the sheep flock dry
''above and below;" that is, protect
them from storms and give a dry, we'll.
drained floor, with access to plenty OF
fresh air. Give even the pig reasonably
good quarters and don't expect to pro-
duce high class pork by making him a
scavenger of the manure heap.
Farming is business and, to get the
best results from it, must be conducted
on business principles. No mercantile
concern could long Withstand such leak
ages as are daily taking place on many
farms. Yet in no other business will
close attention show better results,
There are 80 many departments on the
farm where neglect means waste and
leakages which If not stopped lead to
the result that instead of getting to the
front in the farming world where there
is much light, profit and pleasure, there
will be travelling with dust and heat ol
adverse circumstances with those not
taking the best advantage of their op.
portunities.-A. Williams, Chatham, n.
Y, in New England Farmer.