118 



SELECTIONS FROM PATENT OFFICE REPORT. 



under favorable circumstances, may be stated at $00. 

 They are worth at that age Si 00, though speed or 

 fancy carries them far above that price, while, on the 

 other hand, some unlucky accident may render them 

 entirely worthless. 



Cattle. — Statement of Levi Bartlett, of War- 

 ner, Merrimack Co., JV. H. — Cattle and sheep are 

 raised more largely here than other kinds of domes- 

 tic animals. The great majority of the cattle is 

 what is usually termed " native stock," comprising a 

 great variety as to form, color, size, and difference in 

 cash value at a given age. As an illustration of this, 

 one farmer will sell a pair of two-year-old steers for 

 $35, while, perhaps, upon the next farm, a yoke of 

 the same age will readily sell for $60. These diHer- 

 ences often arise from our hap-hazard manner of 

 breeding and lack of care in rearing and feeding from 

 the birth of the calf until it arrives at maturity. 



At our State and county fairs, there are always to 

 be seen numerous yokes of oxen, of the "native 

 breed," that will compare favorably with any of the 

 imported kinds. So with many of our best milch 

 cows ; but as they have no fixed blood in their veins, 

 their progeny cannot be depended upon in sustaining 

 the good qualities of the mother. Hence, it is a 

 standing proverb, " That a good cow may bring a bad 

 calf." A very few Durhams are to be found among 

 us, the general belief being that they would require 

 too high feeding to be profitably raised by the farm- 

 ers in this northern clime. The North Devons find 

 more favor. They are of medium size, well propor- 

 tioned, and their beautiful deep-red color is a sure 

 passport to the favor of most farmers. How they 

 may prove here as milkers has not yet been ascer- 

 tained, as it is Ijut four years since the first Devon 

 bull, from thfi herd of Mr. Hulbert, of Connecticut, 

 was introduced here. There are now numerous half- 

 blood Devons among our farmers, of one, two, and 

 three years of age, and so far they are highly 

 prized. 



The Ayrshires have been somewhat disseminated 

 through this county. But they have, from some 

 cause or other, failed to sustain their reputation as 

 good milkers; as they also have in Massachusetts, 

 where some of the most choice bloods were imported 

 a few years since by the Massachusetts Society for 

 promoting Agriculture. The progeny of these were 

 given in pairs to the county societies, but they failed 

 to give satisfaction to the farmers of the old "Bay 

 State." Reasoning from analogy, we should infer, 

 from the similarity of the Scottish soil and climate 

 to our own, that the change would not materially 

 affect them. Bat from the disappointment experi- 

 enced here in regard to their milking qualities, " it 

 ■would seem that American air cannot compensate 

 them for the Ayr they have left." 



Our beef-cattle and sheep are conveyed to Brigh- 

 ton market (80 miles) by raUroad — o.xen at about 

 $1 per head, when a full ear load is forwarded; 

 dressed hogs, butter, cheese, and other farm products, 

 at 25 cents for 100 pounds. In transporting live 

 cattle and sheep from this to Brighton market per 

 railroad, there is a great saving in shrinkage over the 

 old method of " footing " it, and consequently a sav- 

 ing to all parties concerned — the farmer, the drover, 

 the butcher, and consumer. 



Gb.i.sses. — Statement of Archihuld Jones, oj 

 Frankfort, fValdo Co., Mc, — Among our native 

 grasses, I would call attention to the " fowl-meadow," 

 which grew wild at Modawasiia belbre that place was 

 settled by the American Fruurli. It flourishes best 

 on " intervals," or meadows along rivers or streams, 

 which in the spring are overflowed by backwater or 

 eddies, and receive a rich deposit of earth or mud. 

 It also grows well where there is an overflow from 

 the rise of water in natural or artificial ponds, pro- 

 vided the water runs oflT before the weather becomes 

 too warm, and the land is well drained. If not, other 

 water-grasses will prevail and force the fowl-meadow 

 out. With an abundant spring overflow, with per- 

 fect drainage when the waters of the ponds or 

 streams subside, fowl-meadow will give a crop of 

 more value than any other grass. Water lying upon 

 it all winter will kill it; but an occasional overflow 

 by winter freshets is beneficial. 



If this grass be cut three or four years before a 

 portion of the seed scatters itself, it will disappear. 

 A safe practice is, never to cut it for hay before the 

 seed is ripe, which takes place before the stalks begin 

 to turn. Where the seed naturally takes root in an 

 open space, in two or three years it * tillers," or forms 

 a bunch of numerous stalks, and is shortlived; but 

 in cases where a meadow of this grass has been cut, 

 two years in succession, earlier than the seed could 

 scatter itself, by harrowing the surface and breaking 

 the long fibrous roots, the plants will be multiplied 

 from these roots. If the meadow be miry or soft, 

 let it be harrowed when the frost is about half out. 



In feeding out the hay, it is a good practice to 

 save the seed-chaff, and scatter it over " swales," or 

 moist upland mowing-lots, and over well-drained low- 

 land occasionally overflowed. In such situations it 

 jjroduces seed in abundance, and will readily take 

 root among other grasses. Sown liberally over moist 

 old mowing-fields, it will keep out much foul vegeta- 

 tion, which would otherwise be liable to work in. 



It is another good practice for the farmer to culti- 

 vate a small patch of fowl-meadow, to ripen for seed 

 to sow over such other mowing-lots as are mown too 

 early to ripen the seed. It need not stand late, as, 

 after reaping the tops for seed, the butts may be 

 mown for hay. 



As fodder for cows and sheep, fowl-meadow makes 

 an exceUent hay; but for horse-feed, with grain, it is 

 too fine to keep the bowels of the animal properly 

 distended for health. It here may be remarked that, 

 however large the yield, this grass never is coarse. 

 As the butts are eaten with relish, there is no waste 

 in feeding out. If the burden be heavy, it does not 

 fall flat on the ground by its own weight, but " crip- 

 ples " with the lower part on or near the ground, with 

 the tops erect. If a summer freshet beats down this 

 grass Hat on the ground, new plants resembling " flo- 

 rin" start up from the joints, and increase the yield 

 without rot or decay. 



The butts, or stalks, of this grass, near the ground, 

 being small, wiiy, and full of joints, containing very 

 little moisture, are easily dried and converted into 

 hay; and, as the upper portions of the plant are 

 small and limber, it is very -little affected by rains 

 when lying in the cock in the field. Hence it is 

 very easily made into hay. 



