340 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



No matter where you go in any part of the state the cry is, 

 scarcity of good dairy cows, and think for a moment of the 

 prevaiHng prices. 



The Great West is gradually changing from the ranch to 

 intensive farming and with it the demand for live stock, espe- 

 cially of the dairy breeds, and we in Maine should be in a posi- 

 tion to supply at least a part of the demand. 



We should be advertised as having live stock for breeding 

 purposes as we had for high class driving horses in the past. 

 The increased production of the high class dairy cow, no mat- 

 ter what the breed, and her products, should have the earnest 

 consideration of this association. The production of the beef 

 animal and her product in Maine some will question as profit- 

 able. In localities I believe it is profitable as well as localities 

 possibly not so profitable for the dairy products ; the foremost 

 consideration would be distance from market. 



The beef consuming population is increasing rapidly and the 

 meat producing animals, I think, do not keep pace with it. 

 One disadvantage the beef producer has in Maine is that there 

 is so much of the lower grade of beef raised, thereby lowering 

 the standard. Breeders' Gazette says : "That we need more 

 meat is abundantly proved. Between 1900 and 19 10 the popu- 

 lation of the United States increased 19 per cent while the num- 

 ber of cattle decreased 1.8 per cent. In 1850 there were in 

 the United States 766 cattle and 1,481 hogs per 1,000 people. In 

 1910, the date of the last census, there were only 665 cattle 

 and 630 hogs per 1,000 people.'" Herein the proflucers can 

 employ cooperation in marketing as well as producing. The 

 sheep industry of course is not what it was years ago in Maine, 

 ■but I believe a profitable one. The few breeders are domg goo'l 

 work. The sheep and her products are in demand and at a 

 profit to the producer, but like all other lines, success is at- 

 tained by the man adapted to the business. The hog industry 

 no man will question. Every farmer raises more or less pork. 

 Hogs are indispensable in connection with other live stock. 

 They more or less thrive on what the other animals waste, 

 especially bipeds. 



The farmer located near hotels or restaurants can collect 

 food at a minimum cost for hogs. The prices grain has been 



