Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-01-30
AMONG THE FARMERS.


"sPnzD TIE PLow."
OTfssRondenoe on practical Agricultural topic
- solicited. Address all Communication IN
4noed Tor this department to HlUY D
nc1se aAppHD. p. Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem
"Oid White" and Beauty"
ONE WAS HANDSOME, BUT THE OTHEF
DELIVERED THE GOODS"
(C.P. Goodrich In Hoard's Dairyman)
When I returned home in 1885 after
the war-my farm had been rented while
l was away-everything on the farm wa
in pretty bad shape. There were foul
cows, such as they were, and were sup
posed at the time to be pretty fail
cows. j was anxious to get good start
in the dairy business as soon as could
But 1t took time. i had to put up some
buildings. felt must have barn and
stable for cows so they could be cared
for better and kept more comfortable
than had been the case before. 1t took
time, for my means were very limited.
| tried hard to improve my stock.
BUILDING UP A DAIRY HERD
used bulls that were said to be oI
good milking stock; disposed of my
poorest cows; raised heifers from the
best-or what thought the best-cows.
did improve them some, but 1t went
slow. In time got a Jersey bull and
when those heifers came to be cows
found had made decided advance In
butter production. / took to weighing
the milk, every milking of each cow for
year. That helped some for 1t told
me which cows gave the most milk,
milk than others, 80 now / did not know
which cows made the most butter.
was bound to try and find out as nearly
as possible. My wife would set four
consecutive milkings Of COW In pans,
skim IL, and churn or stir this cream
into butter. This helped me good
deal, but made vast amount of work to
go through the whole herd, and / am
not sure as got through with all of
them, and could not do 1t often enough
to give me all the information wanted.
But when the Babcock test came, then
we had something that was worth untold
millions to the dairymen. DIR. Babcock
told me once, when saw him, that he
was at work on q chemical test with
hich one could easily determine the
per cent of butterfat that milk contains
ed. / Thought that would be wonder
ful thing. As soon as the doctor had
his test and machine put on the market l
got one. After that progressed rapid
ly in sorting out and improving my herd
of cows. There were some surprises. l
found some cows that had thought, by
the amount of milk, were fairly good,
but scarcely paid for their feed. / will
have to tell you of one striking instance.
"oLD WHITE"
I had a large white COW we called Old
White. She gave q large amount OF
milk when she was fresh, 80 to 6O
pounds day, but the milk dow soon
dropped off and she went dry nearly
three months. Another cow, standing
next TO White, / called Beauty. She
was a email COW, three-fourths Jersey.
She never, at her best, gave over 70
pounds OF milk day, but she dropped
off but very little as the season advsnc-
ed. NV hired man used to milk White
aud used to say. IF you had q whole
herd like White you'd make lots of
money. don't see why you keep sucn
COW as Beauty. She gives SO hstie
milk"
Now had weighed the milk OF these
two cows every milking for year. Not
withstsnding her great preten' Ions to
start with, White did not do anything
great. l tested the milk once In two
weeks by making q composite test OF
two consecutive milkings. Whites
milk for the year footed up only 5000
pounds and the average test was three
per cent. That made only $50 pounds
barely enough to pay for her feed, for
she was large cow and ate accordingly:
Beauty's milk weighed over o,OoO
poupds. and the average test was IL
percent. This gave 325 pounds OF fat
soual to 375 pounds of butter. Wnlcn
cow do YOU think / wanted to dispose or
as I was trying to build up profitable
herd? / guess you know.
One day when White was ires9 sga.h
a COW buyer that was acquainted VIII
came out from Fort Atkinson ana saio
"Have you got cow W soh'
said had one.
"Wbich one?" he asked.
1 replied: (which one do you wantY'
He looked at White with her immense
udder and said: "That Is the kind OF
COW I'd like to buy, but l know you
wouldn't sell her because you are not
the man to sell your best cows" :,
"I will sell her II / get enough,
said. .,.. .1
He replied with strong emphasis: i
will give you seventy-fve dollars AND
take her here and now"
NV answer was: "You can have nei
but I feel that ought to tell you tne
truth about her. She Is not q prontaois
cow for buttermaking at any price. Ano
now that have told you that, you neeo
not take her unless you want to-" ;, :.
he said: 81 want her. She will %
profitable enough for me.
LOOKS GOVERNED PRICE
he was buying to sell again, ana VIVA. ~
II