Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-13

IL
ago either, when Maine farmers an
raised and used oxen. About all the
work on the farm was done by oxen
then. While they were profitable for
working the farm they were kept at
work and were then driven to the
market ana slaughtered for beef. The
best of beef they made too, the kind
that today commands fancy price
in New England or elsewhere, for that
matter. Why don't the farmers go
back to this method of doing their
work and make a profit out of their
farms.
They will tell you they can't COM
pete with the western cattlemen be-
cause it costs more to feed cattle here
than it does on the Drairies Of the
West. Figures show that this is not
true. once the cattle roamcd at will
over the unfcnccd prairies of the great
West. They were raised in Texas and
driven slowly over the country to the
north feeding on the way on the free
government lands, at the end of the
journey fattencd for the market on
cheap corn and then shipped to the
great Strengthening points.
MS Is ii tlllDS ol tllt past. / ne
praries are gone. Today there are no
free government feeding lands. Cat
tie must be raised on their owners
range and then fattcd at homo by corn
bought and shipped to the ranch or
else loaded on cars and shipped to
some fattening place.
The expense of doing this is constant
ly increasing. Corn isn't as cheap as
it was at one time for such purposes.
To raise cattle in the West costs more
and more money each year. About
1900 dressed beef cattle are brought
into Maine each week from the West.
This is about $4,000 q year. In Maine
there are $1,000 farms. without count
ing acres and acres of good land for
such purposes not now developed,
where cattle enough to feed an empire
might be raised, but just the farms
now in existence in the State.
Surprising the most of the farmers
in Maine raised and killed one pair of
steers each year for the market. They
could get their work out of such cat
tie iE a year besides enough more to
pay for keeping them. They would
sell them for from $500 to $3.50 per hun
tern beef raiscrs compete with this,
counting transportation and everything
else?
The western stock raiser cannot
raise beef on the hoof for less than ST.
hundred weight, and in addition he
has 60 pay the freight charges 1t
seems to me that the Maine farmers
can meet this western competition cas-
ily and in a few years give the people
in Maine beef of home raising, besides
a surplus for other New England
states.
Corn can be grown in Maine as we'll
as in the West. The frosts come early,
but the yellow corn. early to mature.
can be used and sufficient food raised |
for fattening cattle at little cost. |
would not advocate extensive stock
farms for Maine men. They are not
necessary, although | have no doubt
that such farms properly located and
handled by experienced men would
pay handsomely in a few years.
Enough beef could be raised on cul-
tivated farms right here in Maine to
supply the home markets and give the
farmers a handsome margin of profit
as we'll.
Good stock for Maine are Durhams
and Herefords, or cross of these
breeds makes good beef and dairy
stock. BY keeping the young stock
coming the farmer would have steers
at all ages in few years to insure
him steady and handsome profit.
Thousands and thousands Of acres
of good land await development in the
northern and eastern parts of this
state and it is a wonder to me that it
is not taken up as fast as the timber
is cut away and turned into stock
farms.
A young man can go today into this
new country or into the older parts of
the state right near Portland, obtain
a good piece of land and devote his
time ard attention to its nroner and
scientific cultivation and make money.
Half the opportunities Of this state
are being neglected by the young men
who think that fortune is only to be
found in the West and in the cities.
Any of the older men can recall when
the farmers of Maine and New Hamp-
shire used oxen almost exclusively for
farm work They make excellent ami
mails for doing such work, strong,
steady and reliable. They cost no
more to feed, not as much | believe, as
do horses, and when the right time
comes they can be sold for beef at
fancy prices almost at the door.
Some attention should be given this
matter by the State authorities not
only here in Maine, but elsewhere. Ex-
perimcnts might be tried to prove its
advantages and lessons taught lhe |
young farmers of the State as to the
raising in an economical manner.
Some time this will all be brought |
about and then the western beef bar
ons will find the down east yankee
more than an insignificant competitor
in business.
If you want a good farm you have
got to have it well stocked with cat
tie. sheep and hogs. You can't afford
to buy commercial fertilizer at $40 per
ton; you must raise your own FERTILIZER.
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