The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-04-19
Ideas From the Farmers.

RI. F. Evans. in the Piscataquis Observer
A farmer occasionally calls at the
Observer office when both he and we have
time for chat, which the dictionary says
is familiar talk. Walter H. Burgess of
West Dover was in not long ago under
such circumstances and spoke OF some
thing we had never realized-the value
of a farmers team in planting time.
We were speaking of potato prices and
he questioned the wisdom OF holding po-
tatoes until the late spring because OF the
loss from using the team to haul them to
market when it should be used In putting
in the crop. He said that no man can
tell what the value of days work of a
team is in planting time. 1t might mean
the growth of the potato field for day,
which would mean considerable II an
early frost came, and not so much II the
frost held off until the potatoes were
fully matured.
All this being true, and we believe it
is, a farmer should think twice before
he takes day off in planting time even
to attend grange meeting.
A few days later Moses S. Cross of
Foxcroft came in and as it was Saturday
afternoon he sat down and chatted. His
subject was not new, but one on which
we have thought much and written some.
the raising of young stock, which he pro-
poses to do more than he has. He be-
lieves that it can be done profitably be-
cause the animals can be raised entirely
from the products of the farm and they
certainly bring good price in these days.
Frank C. Barker of Exeter told us
several years ago, when stock was low,
that he had changed his line of farming
and was raising young stock and that not
long before he had sold $500 worth and
they hadn't eaten a thing that didn't
grow on his farm.
The older readers of this will remember
that the prosperous farmers of so years
ago had one or more yoke of oxen to sell
during the year. The cattle were used
to do the farm work and sold when they
could be spared and the price put in the
bank or loaned to less prosperous farm
er or to some one in the village who was
trying to get living in an easier way
than by farming. In the meantime the
farmer had some steers coming up tt
take the place of the oxen sold or else he
would 60 out and buy yoke of oxen that
lacked the finishing touches he wouc
give them.
The day of the oxen seems to have
passed; whether entirely to the gain OF
loss of the farmers is debatable ques
ton, but the day of young stock is still
with US and it is like finding money tt
sell some that have been entirely sup
ported by the farm. And besides that
there is by-product, the dressing, anl
by-products may be as valuable to the
farmer as to the meat packer.
A few days after Mr.. Cross call
Herbert L. Cilley of Atkinson was in thu
Office. In the course of conversation HI
said almost alphabetically that he hat
sold his potatoes and for So bushel.
That brought up question which con
fronts potato raisers every year and will
be more difficult to settle next season be
cause of this seasons prices when t.
sell. When dealer in stocks sells to,
late he is said to have over-stayed tn
market. The wise Spectator, If Their
are any, sells when he can realize a fai
profit and we believe the potato raise
muse do that if he succeeds in the ioni
run. If he has very large crop he cal
string the sales over several months
being careful, however, not to let then
interfere with the planting season; bu
even then he may overstay the marke
and sell at less price than he nigh
have done. We imagine that more farm
ers have suffered from selling potatoe
too late than too early.