SOME AMERICAN BREEDERS. 



AUGUSTINE R. AYERS, North Boscawen, N. H. The dairy interest in New 

 Hampshire has grown in importance to a wonderful extent in the past few 

 years, in both the milk and butter-producing lines, so that the attention of the 

 progressive farmers of the state has been called to the matter of improved 

 stock, and the Holsteins have come in for a generous share of consideration 

 and approval. 



Among dairymen adopting this breed is Augustine R. Ayers, of North Bos- 

 cawen, N. H., an enthusiastic milk producer, who is now wholesaling his pro- 

 duct to dealers in Concord in preference to selling at the cars for the Boston 

 market, as a majority of the producers in that section of the state are doing. 



Mr. Ayers is a native of Gilmanton, N. H., born December 28, 1839, but he 

 spent his childhood and youth on a farm in the town of Canterbury, manifest- 

 ing in this early period of his career a strong love for domestic animals and 

 adapting himself with special readiness to the training of colts and steers, 

 milking the cows and caring for lambs and poultry. Before attaining man- 

 hood, however, he was impelled by various considerations to devote himself to 

 mercantile life in the city of Concord, which he followed in different lines 

 with the exception of a term of service in the Union army in the late war as 

 a member of the Fifteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers from the 

 age of eighteen until 1890. Feeling the need of a change for the benefit of his 

 health, and inspired by his early love for farm life, he determined to engage in 

 agriculture. His love for good horses had been indulged to considerable extent 

 while in business in Concord, and upon commencing farm operations upon the 

 old Jacob Gerrish place at North Boscawen, which came into his possession 

 practically as an abandoned farm, he first turned his attention to the breeding 

 of trotting horses, which he pursued with a fair measure of success for two or 

 three years; but with the decline in horses he determined to change to the 

 dairy. 



His attention being directed favorably to the Holstein-Friesian cattle, 

 through ex-Governor Goodell and others, and being favorably impressed with 

 their beautiful form and size, great dairy capacity, uniform health and strong 

 constitution, he procured a few good registered animals of this breed from the 

 Russell importation, and has steadily increased and improved his herd. He 

 has now about thirty-five head altogether, including some very fine specimens 

 of the Netherland, Pauline Paul and Pietertje families. His bull, Jean Paul, 

 two years of age, is a splendid animal, a great-grandson of Pauline Paul, and 

 won a premium at the New Hampshire Grange State Fair at Tilton, last fall. 



Mr. Ayers milks about eighteen cows, giving them ordinary care and no 

 fancy feeding, making no effort for extra records. Yet some of his cows have 

 averaged 600 cans of milk each per annum, and one lias given 81 Ibs. in twenty- 

 four hours. 



The farm, which embraces 275 acres altogether, is finely located on the line 

 of the Boston & Maine Railroad, Concord Division, just above the Merrimack 

 County Farm at North Boscawen, bordering on the west bank of the Merrimack 

 river, and extending back upon the hill a mile and a half, with seventy-five 

 acres of easily-tilled river land, and the balance pasture and woodland. When 

 Mr. Ayers took possession it was in a neglected and run-down condition, but by 

 care and labor he has greatly improved it, and already has forty acres in supe- 

 rior condition. He has eleven acres in corn this year, and several acres in oats 

 and potatoes, having raised from 300 to 1,200 bushels of the latter each year 

 since he has been on the farm. 



He has built a new 100-foot barn with cellar under the whole, and a large 



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