Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-01
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEED TIE PLow."

"srrED THE PLow."
Correspondence on practical Agr1cunufai topice
u soficited. Address al communleaoons "
tended for this department 70 HkNL
HAnnoND, Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem'
ocrat. Paris. Ne.
The Kind of q Horse to Raise.
fAbstracs of lecture by Professor +. L; RUSSELL
Farmers Week, Orono, March &sh)
No more timely or important subject
could be considered at large gathering
of farmers than The Kind Of Horse to
Raise. This topic was discussed by FRO
fessor Russell Tuesday morning IN the
Farmers Week course, Orono, to IN IN
terested audience of Maine farmers.
| Professor Russell 10 an authority on snc
horse, and his lecture, the substance OF
which follows, will be found Interesting
and instructive.
One of the most urgent needs on our
Maine farms to-day 10 more of the right
kind of horses. We need them that We
may do more business, do 1t better, and
do it at the right time. The proportion OF
horses to people for the whole country
exclusive of cities-is about one horse to
two human beings. Here In the state OF
Maine the proportion 10 about 1:b. This
shows something of the deficiency from
which We are suffering. The soil and
climate of Maine are we'll adapted to q
large variety of products that the nearby
population of our cities and towns must
have. Products that at the present
time are brought from remote points and
are sold even to the farmers themselves
products that might better be grown oy
the Maine farmer, II he were In q posi-
ton to do 30. Some increase In produc-
ton can doubtless be obtained BY better
business methods. No one will attempt
to say that the limit of efficiency has
been attained In the use Of men and ma
ohinery, horses, and other stock on our
farms. It is we'll worth while that We
study how to produce more and better
crops with just the tools that are at
hand. Just a. there 10 limit to the
possible production In the mill or rae
tory which 10 dependent upon the power
and machinery availa BILE 30 the produc-
ton of the farm Is absolutely limited by
the equipment used to operate 1t.
The time may come when the human
family will actually suffer for the neces-
sites of life, and sea and land Will %
taxed to the limit Of production, put
there is no indication In this state that
such time is near at hand. It some
times seems as though We do not take q
serious view OF our calling, that We are
lust playing at the art OF agriculture and
are not regarding 1t as q serious business.
Large we'll located farms, capable OF pro-
ducing abundantly are lying practically
idle. Farms with 80 acres Of tillable
land may have 9 or Z under cultivation
during q single season. This is not SIM
DIV In exceptional cases but fairly repre-
senting average conditions In entire
townships and counties.
With our short seasons, with the very
limited time for getting seed into the
ground, We cannot see any prospect OF
very much improvement with the facili-
ties that are at hand. 1t Is true that
more of the work necessary to ut the
soil for the seed could be done during
the previous summer and fall; by cooper
alton machinery may be used to better
advantage, and the farm teams 10y carel
can be conditioned for tho work 90 that
v hen the rush of the seeding time Ii on
better results will be obtained In tho fu-
ture than in tho past. Yet when We con-
slider the situation We see that to pro-
duce more, to really produce on Maine
farms anything like the limit to which
they may profitsbly be used We must
have more motive power. Tho horses
We now have on our farms certainly
work nearly to the limit Of their capac-
ity during the growing season, especially
during the spring when the seed must be
put into the ground. If more horse
bower cannot be obtained at cost that
will make its employment profitable
there is little prospect OF extension OF
Names agricultural production. we
believe that more horse power can be
obtained at cost 30 low that 1t will be
profitable to use.
The horses that we now have cost US
more than they ought. The most OF our
farm horses are either second hand,
horses that have outlived their useful
ness in nearby cities or In the woods, or
they are green soft unframed animals
from the west. The secondhand horses
have to be replaced often, must be fed
literally, and are only moderately ell
cient. They are apt to cost more than
thoy are worth and compared to their
real value moro than the green horses.
The cost of maintaining them 10 high,
their efficiency is below par, and they do
not last long. The second hand team
that 10 young, sound, and oil right 10 the
best possible kind to buy II the price is
reasonable but In these days of high
prices an old team 10 seldom worth what
il will sell for. Green horses from tho
middle west furnish our principal sup
DIV of farm teams. These are mostly
peldings, many Of them blemished, or
Door shaped, and of less than standard
weight for draft horses.
We do not forget that the raising OF
the draft horse and the doing OF more
business on tho farm calls for moro men,
and farm belp 10 hard to find. However,
We may claim that 1t 10 an added reason
for raising more colts. The best farm
help for Maine Is Maine boys born and
bred on our farms. They have been
leaving Maine to build up the west and
10 contribute to the prosperity and de-
velopment OF New England manufactur-
ing towns. The development of Names
agriculture will tend TO keep them ut
home and furnish them profitable and
attractive employment.
With Q few practical suggestions we
will close. Start with good breeding
stock; the best obtsinable 10 none too
good. The mares should be large, sound,
kind, and OF good conformation, II pure
bred 30 much tho better. II desirable
mares cannot be obtained nearer, they
can be purchased through dealers bring
| ing in western horses. One will have to
pay little more for them than for geld
ings but they will be we'll worth the
difference. Breed to the best purebred
draft stallion that Ii accessible, do NOT
over estimate the advantage OF breeding
to nearby stations at small fee. In
the end the advantage is all In favor Of
quality. Have the colts come early, the
last of March If possible; feed the mares
literally and work them. II carefully
a.