REARING AND FEEDING FARM STOCK. 249 



standing next, a consideration which should have its due weight 

 with every person in choosing his pursuit for life. 



Mr. L. L. Lucas then read the following paper on 



Common Errors in Rearing and Feeding Farm Stock. 



The farmers of Maine are at fault in so many different ways, 

 that no one man can expect, or even hope, through his best exer- 

 tions, with all the talents he can bring to bear, to correct many of 

 them, or to create any rapid change among the masses. Fanners 

 as a mass don't respect their occupation, and the small pay they 

 get accounts for it to a very great extent, since it is the dollars 

 and cents growing out of any business or profession that renders 

 it popular, especially if physical labor is necessary to its prosecu- 

 tion. Farmers ought to look upon their occupation as a profession 

 superior to Divinity, Law or Medicine. He can live without them, 

 but they cannot live without him. It requires as much ability to 

 become a successful farmer, as it does to become a successful 

 lawyer, doctor or minister, and as thorough education would help 

 him very materially. 



Farmers have made their occupation to be what it is, and it is 

 in their power to change it and make it not only different, but 

 decidedly better and more remunerative. They ought to know 

 from the experience of the last ten years what crops are most 

 profitable to cultivate in their particular locality ; also what kinds 

 of stock, including horses, sheep and swine, are most profitable. 

 Since the stock from Maine has been shipped to market over the 

 railroads, many farmers have had an opportunity to go to the 

 markets that perhaps otherwise might never have gone, and it 

 would seem that with ordinary powers of observation they could 

 not well help knowing what kinds of stock sell best and are most 

 popular in .the market, hence what kinds are most profitable to 

 raise, and how to breed and raise them ; but their march has been 

 slow, only small progress has been generally made, and the pres- 

 ent year cleans them out so effectually that when they start again, 

 they can go in any direction they choose. They can pack up and 

 go to the woods, though I have never advised that course, but I 

 have advised them to try aud get out of the woods. I stated 

 before the Board of Agriculture in September last, that stock 

 could not be raised. in Maine exclusively for beef purposes except 

 at a loss. I reiterate it now. It can be grown aud fed elsewhere 



