14 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



There are in the state some very fine herds of cattle be- 

 longing to beef breeds. 



SHEEP. 



The number of sheep owned in the state of Maine has been 

 on the decrease for many years and we find the same to be 

 true throughout the country and also in Canada. In spite of 

 that fact, we beheve that the sheep raising industry is a good 

 and profitable business. This has been demonstrated and is 

 being demonstrated in this state every year by a few men. 



Formerly it was the case that a large percentage of the farm- 

 ers owned small flocks of sheep numbering from fifteen to 

 thirty or forty. When the dairy business came into vogue 

 these flocks were sold off for the most part. Dairymen do not 

 like to be troubled with a few sheep. We hope that sometime 

 in the future the sheep industry will be revived in the state. 



THE DAIRY. 



The dairy interests of the state are m a fairly prosperous 

 condition. The standard of dairy cows has been raised consid- 

 eralbly in the last decade. More attention has been given to 

 breeding and feeding and also to dairy sanitation. The results 

 are a larger and better product. A few new creameries have 

 been organized during the year. However, the increased de- 

 mand for milk in cities is leading many dairymen to sell whole 

 milk, instead of separating and' selling the cream.. 



There are several breeders' associations in the state en- 

 gaged in more or less active work. Many of them are short 

 of capital. It is hoped that some way may be devised whereby 

 they may be assisted. With means to purchase more and bet- 

 ter bulls, the work of these associations would be proportion- 

 ately increased in value, and the results would be far reaching 

 in their efifect on the dairy interests of the state. 



No one thing has had more influence upon our dairy inter- 

 ests than the dairy testing associations. They open up to theit 

 members many opportunities for improvement. Through dis- 

 cussion and experiment the most economical combinations of 

 feeds are ascertained. The value of full blood animals as 

 compared with grades is almost constantly under consideration, 



