Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-08
Agricultural Help
AS to Starting Out Riqht.

ttEt III a Siitttii way hut III 6dIittSt. w =
lett the old occupation and started into
the new one with a full determination
of winning out in the end, ii the com
hinauon of work and planning would
bring success. Our farm was small
and SO was ready cash for equipping
the farm. Fences, buildings, imple-
ments and live stock were needed. As
much as was needed could not all be
purchased at once
Many small things were needed at
first, So we managed to get along fer
several months without COW. But the
wife soon realized that keeping house
in the country without fresh milk and
butter was a difficult matter. She was
the means, or rather her argument
was the means of lis procuring the
first COW, and we have never since re
GREETED the acquisition. Within less
than a year this COW gave birth TO a
ccod heifer calf, of which we we're eX-
tremely proud After a short time an
other heifer calf was purchased, at It
small sum. from a neighbour who was
moving away. We then had three
head of cattle for start at the end of
the first year, really more than we ex-
year. These were so easily handled and
fed at so little cost of home grown
feeds, that we felt that we could af-
ford to keep still more animals. Ac
cordingly another young producing
COW VAS purchased, which made four
female animals for breeding. Fhe two
producing cows gave plenty of milk
and butter fer all family needs. with
some butter to sell. The milk and
butter for home consumption reduced
the cost of running the table, While
the butter sold paid for all the extra
feed purchased for the COWS. The ami
mails were practically self supporting,
while the herd was increasing in size
and the heifers rapidly growing into
money. The next step was TO breed
all of them To a good bull to secure
heifers that would produce more milk
than their dams. Three of these heif
ers now have calves of their own,
and their superior merit has proved
the wisdom of the good breeding. We
now have fourteen head of female cat
tie all told. worth at least $500, while
the producing cows have more than
paid the way of all as the increase
took place.
The increase of producing cows has
made il possible to Keep more pigs
than would have been possible with
out the cows. A lot of planning and
pinching was done to get start Of
these animals, yet after a small start
is once made, they soon increase in
numbers and pay their way with a
profit. The beginner with an initial
expenditure of 500 for animals viii
soon find himself in possession of ami
mails valued at $1,000 or more. with
right feeding and breeding.
The sanest thing the beginning farm
er can do is to start ais soon as posi-
BILE with q few breeding animals of
horses. cattle and hogs. and perhaps
sheep. according to conditions. Many
beginners make the mistake OF start
ing out with few or no breeding ami
mails. They put off securing these with
the expectation of being in a bet
ter financial position later to secure
them without inconvenience. Some
do not care to be bothered with
raising animals, thinking that
it is just as cheap to purchase Stock
when needed. After they have been
Ada iAAtiS ipi ttSHt II ~ Sl .stdiS, lllSy
wake up to find they have no live
stock worth mentioning, and no visi-
bic means of securing any Had they
started with a few breeding animals
at first. they could have had by this
time all the animals the farm could
economically carry, with plenty of sur
plus stock to sell for cash income
Young animals, even more than crops,
grow into money while you sleep. 1t is
much better to always have a surplus
to sell than to be compelled to pur
chase when animals are needed. 1t Is
the legitimate business of The farmer
to raise animals to sell to other peo-
pie, and not to be a buyer of animals.
A farmer is to be pitied perhaps
blamed, if compelled to purchase a
horse for home use in case of death
or disablemept of one of his work ami
mails. He should have young horses or
mules corning on all the time to more
than h4H all vacancies. so y
A good WAY for a beginner to get a
start of live stock is to purchase d few
young breeding animals of neighbors.
At times in every neighborhood these
young animals can be purchased at
ItdSOlltf'iC lJilItS. w tiNiC Aiit-AAAo - y
limited, sacrifice should be made to
secure some for d start. The invest
ment will soon come back with a good
dividend attached. For instance, 1t is
often possible to purchase heifer cali
at cost of $40. This calf can De kept
on pasture and supplementary feeds
at a cost of only a few dollars each
year. At years of age, with calf by
her side, she will easily be worth 500,
and may be sold for that If not needed
at home. Similarly, a SOW pig can De
purchased for 81 or s., which after a
few months with a litter of pigs AT
her side will be worth $25 or $50. The
same situation is true with sheep. All
of the animals breed fast, and rea-
sonable number of them can be grown
on an avera ge- sized farm, with scarce
" missing the feed consumed. Much OF
the feed consumed would be total
waste with no extra animals for con-
Stunning it. The beginning farmer,
when he purchases a team, should by
all means secure two good mares in
stead of mules or nonbreeding horses.
These mares should be bred every
year. or every alternate year. If the
colts are not needed for present use,
they can be either sold at weaving
time or at any other age up till the