134 BOARD OF AGRlCtJLTURE. 



STOCK HUSBANDRY FOR AROOSTOOK COUNTY. 



By Hall C. Burleigh, Fairfield Centre. 



That the production, management and disposal of our live 

 stock is the most important interest of our noble State will be 

 elearlj proved without any argument from me, I trust all will 

 willingly concede. That these interests are but poorly cared 

 for and often sadly neglected, is patent to every observing 

 mind, and is- a source of painful regret to every lover of these 

 noble animals, which an all-wise Providence has given for our 

 use, comfort and pleasure, and holding us, their owners, 

 accountable for their usage and comfort. 



Who of us can fully appreciate the value of the gentle cow, 

 whose supply of milk and butter form so important a part of 

 our daily food ; or the patient ox, whose whole life is devoted 

 to bearing our burdens, doing the work of a score of men, 

 and at the end of which, if properly cared for and fed, will 

 in return feed a multitude of people ; or the noble horse, this 

 most abused of all the animals given us, so loving, so patient, 

 always willing to do our bidding, if properly reared and 

 trained. And last, though not least, as regards a nation's 

 wealth and prosperity, the meek-eyed sheep, with its golden 

 fleece, bringing wealth in proportion to the interest taken in 

 this branch of husbandry. And although I do not propose 

 to go far into statistics to prove any arguments that I may 

 make, yet it will be necessary to give a few figures to show 

 the importance and value of the live stock interests, as they 

 now exist, and what they may be by judicious management 

 and care ; and in doing so I shall draw largely from Com- 

 missioner Watts' Report of 1877, and my own experience as 

 a stock raiser, and general observations. 



