Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-08

was practically 1850, or an average of Ga
for each of the 40 meetings.
AT these meetings there was a COM
mendable degree of interest shown. es-
pecially by those whose chief source of
income is their dairy. 1 believe that
greater part of our dairymen read dairy
literature, and, as shown by their ex-
cellent exhibit at the Dairymen's Confer
ence, are improving the quality of their
product.
lat the request of the commissioner Of
agriculture, officially attended the fairs
at Belfast. Cornish, Houlton. Pressure
Isle, South Paris. Canton, Pennington,
Woolwich, New Gloucester and Topsham
Poultry was the only stock which I saw
shown for premiums at Belfast. At the
other fairs creditable showing In beef
and dairy stock. as we'll as farm pro-
Ducts was made. No report Of the above
named fairs would be complete that
failed to commend the excellent work of
our girls canning clubs. The ladies'
fancy work was the best ever seen, and
no one could stand by the show ring and
see the splendid type of horses of Aroos-
took county without increasing his pride
in the Pine Tree State.
| Grain and Horses.
1.-THE darymen of Maine are paying too
much of their hard earned money for
what can be profitably produced in Maine
| Il refer to grain and horses. Excellent
yields Of corn and as high as 81 bushels
of oats from one acre, are reported. Con-
sidering the large acreage of land in
Maine suitable for the growing of grain,
and the increasing freight rates upon the
western product, it would seem that more
attention should be given to the growing
of grain. The live stock sanitary com.
missioner granted certificates for 1916
horses to be shipped into Maine during
1915. These represented value Of at
least s1,5oooo1. Many farmers are now
believe that the industry should be en-
| couraged.
AFTER a careful study of the problems
before the dairymen of Maine, 1 believe
that they can increase the net income of
their herds by increasing the production.
decreasing the cost of feed and receiving
more for their product.
1.-THE production of a herd of a given
number of cows may be increased by bet
ter COWS. better feed and care, selling
low producers and putting higher pro-
ducers in their place.
THE cost of feed may be decreased by
raising more of our feed, raising more of
our farm teams. by a more economic
combination of dairy ratons.
more can be received from the pro-
r,,y
study of the market and of the industry,
a more judicious use of the bi-products.
as skim milk, calves, carefully husband
ing all the fertilizing material. a more
systematic organization for mutual pro-
lection.
Nothing in my opinion so cripples the
dairy industry in Maine as the pernicious
custom of killing the bulls before the
capacity of their daughters has been as
certained. At least IS per cent. of our
cows are sired by bulls which were killed
before any of their daughters were tested
at the pail.
prince Yoma Spofford 9th was the sire
of II daughters. Before his value was
known, he and three of his daughters
were killed OF the eight living daugh-
tiers, four, or 80 per cent, have records
of over 80 pounds in seven days. Accord
ing to the Blue Book, this bull stands
far ahead of all others as the sire Of 80
pound daughters. This young sire, val
liable. because prepayment, should have
been kept, to improve our herds.
Cow Test Associations.
"The efficient work Of the COW test as
sociations has demonstrated their value
The plan Of these associations is to join
the influence of Is owners of cows and to
employ an advisor whose duty it it to
cooperate with the owners of these cows
in determining the production, cost OF
feed and the most economical way to
manage their herds. The records Of q
herd serve as guide in breeding, selling
and feeding.
There are now Il COW test association.
: doing active work, seven having beer
formed during the year. In some IN
stances the members of the associations
are so far separated that meeting Of all
the members is impossible. This greatly
retards the work, as great benefit can be
derived from all meetings of the associa'
ton, which are held regularly.
/ | NJ