Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-05-30
Two Young Men.

this vicinity started dairy farming. Each
was without any large amount OF capital,
but both were full Of ambition and ener-
~ and were equipped with q fair educa-
tion. Conditions were nearly equal.
Both were renting land on share basis.
Their farms were larger than the aver
age in this community and both land.
lords liberal in keeping their farms and
buildings In good condition.
| A few days ago the sale notice OF one
of these came into my hands. Quoting
literally, It reads: "Nine head Of Jer-
seys, seven head Of Guernseys, four Hol-
stems, fourteen head Of half. blood Jer-
seys, and six head of half-blood jersey
yearling heifers, also one three-year-old
Shorthorn bull weighing about 1850
lbs" Quite needlessly the sale card
goes on to state that % this 10 IN abs0-
lutte closing ont sale, that they will sell
their entire equipment Of cans, sepa.
rators, mixers, eto. It further reads:
"This Offering is absolutely 6rst-class,
was carefully selected for their own es-
tablisbment, and should attract multi
tude of buyers" A statement which
the merest tyro In dairy economies
would take with grain of salt.
No reason for quitting the farm is
given, and none is needed. Forty.one
head OF cattle of four breeds and ell
their intermingling crosses, and as fit-
ting climax their herd sire whose chief
distinction is that at three years he
weighs 1850 lbs.
Eight years hard work has sapped .
great deal of the energy and all the en-
thusiasm, and has returned but scanty
day lab0rer's wages to that bright, hope
full young lad of eight seasons ago.
What is the troublea He had the farm,
good equipment, and splendid market.
He was fair feeder, and . consistent,
close caretaker. Yet his COWS, as q
herd, never broke even. he bad abso-
lutely NO standard. He bought any
thing that would freshen. His herd was
no better the day of bis sale than the
day he went into business. The veal
market fixed the value of his calves.
There was no demand for his COWS and
when one was sold 1t was simply at q
canner's valuation. The heifers he
grew to maturity and developed were
simply across bred heterogeneous lot
that had consumed at two years more
than their carcass was worth. he final
ly became discouraged, as the hard,
long hours were making him neither
healthy, nor wealthy, nor wise.
The other young man started With
good grade Holsteins which he picked
up In the neighborhood. he used .
good pure-bred sire which he purchased
at q very reasonable price from q neigh |
boring breeder. He was accurate with
his milk weights, careful with his feed
ing, and he has watched bis cattle very
closely. The herd has been increased
from time to time and at present he Is
making a practice of selling bis cows at
seven to eight years Of age and replacing |
them with heifers of his own raising. |
The quality of bis herd Is such that
these full aged, well bred, nicely condi-
toned COWS have been bringing very
strong prices. Not only has the milk
end of his business paid . handsome
profit for every year, but the sale OF sur
plus breeding stock is now adding very
to the years income. As yet |
It is entirely grade herd excepting the
sire. The bull calves from bis best COWS
frequently sell for twice their veal value
to farmers who are looking for sires.
Eight years. work with constant aim
In view has made him happy and pros
porous, and has increased his efficiency.
It matters but little what breed OF
dairy cattle one selects. The type or
ideal within that breed which one works
toward is all important. It is practical
" foregone conclusion that the man
who starts dairying under present con.
iitions without some definite ideal and
conforming rather closely to
the more advanced dairy type, Is GER
tainly travelling the road towards disap.
pointment and failure.-Wm. A. Martin,
Ohio, in Hoard's Dairyman.