Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-25
Advises Dr.. Huntington,
Federal Expert,
Changed Conditions In West
Names Opportunity.


DR.. F. w. Huntington, inspector fo.
the bureau of animal industry OF the
United States at Portland in an inter-
view with a Portland Press represeil-
tative again calls upon the farmers of
Maine to embrace the opportunity to
make money by raising cattle He said:
The time was not so very many
years ago, when New England supplied
us own beef. Transportation facilities
were not as good then as they are to-
DAY and although the Central States
and the great West We're raising beef
the New England farmer did not feel
the competition very much. At that
TINE every farmer owned one pair CT
oxen. at least. He used them in tilling
the soil, in hauling lumber. in break
ing out the roads and in fact for every
purpose for which horses have since
been used. The oxen were not only
valuable for these purposes but they
sold readily for beef and more than
paid for their keep. leaving the work
they did as clear profit to the farmer;
or you can put it the other way and
the work they did while the ultimate
SAFE lOT DScl was SlCdI pTOll.
But the increase in transportation
facilities and the influx of western
beef into New England gradually
frightened the New England farmer
out Of cattle raising The Central
States, where farmers had been raising
beef for their own consumption and for
profit, in turn gave up cattle raising
and allowed the ranch men on the free
and limitless prairies Of the West to
supply all Of the beef which they as
we'll as New England required.
For years the whole of the trans
Mississippi region was practically de-
voting itself to beef raising. The
ranch men monopolizing the business
and the industry. as an industry, died
out almost altogether in the eastern
part Of the country. What has hap
pened since the industry became prac-
tically conferred in the West? The
ranches have been cut up into farms,
the cattle men deprived of their linn
itless feeding grounds and cattle rails
ing has been forced upon farms which
are no better able to raise beef than
our own farms in New England. To-
day the country west of the Missis-
sippi cannot begin to supply us with
beef. The farmers of the Central
States are beginning to take up the
animal industry again in a scientific
way and it is now New England's
turn to go back into the business.
my purpose in talking about this
matter is to drive home to some of our
Maine farmers the fact that their OPP
portunity lies in becoming cattle rails
fpv. IN,
England should begin the raising of a
pair of steers right now. and follow 1t
up by raising COWS for dairy purposes.
There isn't a question to be considered
in the raising of feed for the animals.
In the first place, there is much
waste land which is not now used for
any purpose where cows and steers
nav secure their own food for great
er part of the year. The farmers or
Maine have been raising little besides
sweet corn and potatoes. Surprising
they begin III the raising of yellow
corn which natures early. oats and
other food stuff for animals. They
can produce it as cheaply as they can
purchase it and can realize profit by
feeding it to their own stock. The
steers can be used for farm work, the
cows will bring in constant proiit
from the sale of milk and dairy prod
ucts and in a little while the animal
Industry will be re-established in New
England About 1900 dressed beef cat
tie are brought into Maine each week
from the West. This is about $4,000 a
wear. In Maine there are $500 farms
not counting the hundreds of acres OF
good land for farming purposes not
now developed where cattle enough to
feed an empire might he raised.
Surprising we could get the farm
ers of Maine to each raise pair of
steers for the market each year. AS
have said they could even get q profit
out of them Ivy working them on the
farm while they We're maturing ana Ill
the end sell them for $500 to $3.50 per
hundred liveweight. The western FAR
mers cannot compete with these prices.
IF a man wants good farm ne
must have it stocked with cattle
sheep and hogs. The farmer can't al
ford to buy commercial fertlllZer at
s4O a tor. He can raise his own fcr-
tilizer and there is nothing which VIII
keep a farm going as well as Ola
fashioned barn dressing and the only
vay to get it is to produce 1t.
"Thc trouble with the Maine FARMER
is that he has been devoting too much
OF his attention 10 one thing. He mas
been raising sweet corn exclusively
and | believe at loss to himseil vi
he has been producing hay or potatoes
and nothing else. The farm "hich
pays will always he found 10 De t'e
ona which produces variety OF 'h'ns
and no one thing. That was wha'
made the New England farmer once
60 nrosperous and thrifty. he pro-
ducad all that his family ave anu
wore and sold his surplus to the clties
and towns. The farmer must now go
hoc, to the old method OF doing
things If he will take up the pro-
ducing of live stock again, raise ms
own feed for his animals. utilize the
stecrs for farm work as far as posi-
bile and pasture his cattle on the
waste land it will not be many years
before we shall be producing enough
beef for nome consumption and will
have a surplus to sell to the West.
Good stock for Maine farmers are
n,rharnSi and Hereforfs or a cross or