STOCK AND SHEEP HUSBANDRY. ]^45 



Mr. Hayfokd. We are feeding cows that do not pay the 

 expense of pasturing and the hay they eat. Were these cows 

 fatted and sold to the butchers and their places supplied with 

 real good cows, even if they do cost forty or fifty dollars, 

 would we not be the gainers thereby? I think so. You 

 must manage and care for your stock, no matter what kind 

 you are raising, but of course the better stock you have the 

 better returns you get from good care and good management. 



Take the dairy subject. To-day there are many farmers 

 around this village who are keeping cows year after year that 

 pay ^10 profit whatever. The same is true of beef and of 

 our sheep. What we want to do in the stock business is to 

 strive to know what kind of stock to keep and how to care 

 for it. Many farmers cut a great deal of hay, feed it out, and 

 save no profits. If they would study the bus'ness more 

 thoroughly they would get eight or ten dollars per ton in 

 place of three or four for their hay. 



Brother farmers of Aroostook county, we have the mem- 

 bers of the Board with us, and we can learn lessons to-day of 

 lasting benefit. I really hope all formers in this county inter- 

 ested, will come to the meetings of this Board, and will 

 remember what information they receive. 



Mr. Parker of Aroostook county. I think it is a mis- 

 taken idea which some farmers have, all over the State, that 

 we can compete with the West in beef, wool and mutton. 

 We cannot do it, in my estimation. I think the wool crop to 

 be one of the most productive of any in the State ; farmers 

 get as much money out of it as from any other. Mr. Bur- 

 leigh said in his remarks that it was one of the greatest evils 

 in the State to use and keep horses as we do. We don't want 

 so many horses. He is right about the matter. We want to 

 get rid of some of these worthless horses and keep more 

 stock of other classes. There are farmers about here who 

 keep horses where they should keep none, but keep oxen in 

 their stead. If farmers would keep oxen, and less horses, 

 they could farm at a greater profit than they do now. 



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