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Farm And Fruit. February Meeting Of Agriculturalists And Pomologists

Farm And Fruit. February Meeting Of Agriculturalists And Pomologists image
Parent Issue
Day
21
Month
February
Year
1879
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Mr. Cha?. H. Bichmond of Ag. society in the chair. Mr. Jacob Ganzhorn, Secretary. Meeting opened by discussion of "Best breeds of oattle for Washtenaw County." Mr. Bauer visited the state agricultural college There the Ayreshire was the favorito for milk. Mr. Finley never owned a thoroughbred cow - had a buil but lost hira by fire. Negleoted to replaca hira and stock rapidly degenerated. Mr. Richinond being called upon, believed Durhams were the best for Washtenaw County. He was reared in a locality similarly situated agriculturally to markets as thin county was. We are as near them through the railroads as central New York, and wheat is worth, singularly as it niay seem, as inuch in Detroit as there. Farmers should raise the best breods of cattle. Jerseys were good for milk but for beef, a failure. Eaise largo carcasses and good milkers. From experionce he knew the Durhams were profitable by usinjj them as a base and crossing with best natiTes. Ayre shires were good but designed for loealities where milk is the main object and most desirable for market. The Campbell stock sold at Clayville, N. Y., are only fit for beef and show. Cows from this stock do not give milk sufficient to raise calves. They are fine in hair, but unadapted to this section, except in way of crossing. A cross between Durhams and Devoushires can not be excelled for milk, if from animáis of those breeds having what are called " milking strains" or qualities. Speaker raised Durhams, and crossed stock, which were so fino that he received good prices for them. and sonie of which were brought to this State. There is no reaeon why farmers of Washtenaw cannot raise as fine cattle and sheep as can be produced anywhere. Competitíon in grain growing will soon, if it has notalready compelled producers of this section to pursue mixed farming; to grow best stook; to raise choioest fruits. Farming to pay iu the future, must be good farming. Mr. Pinley inquired of last speaker how to deteot thoroughbred stock. Mr. E. replied, if without pedigree, texture of skin, hair and color, by expression of the eye and forin, but these are not invariable rules. Mr. Parshall disagreed with Mr. Richmond as to blooded stock and called on Mr. Geddes to relate his experience. Mr. G. began with natives. Had ill success with Devons. Succeeded better with Durhains, and believed there were good milkers among them. We want a cow which will give the most milk from the least feed. Proper way to teil a full blooded buil is to look at calves. Pedigrees are a good deal with the man. Mr. Scott once owned 80 head on the banks of the Maumee; among the number was a spotted cow that milked every day in the year for eight years. Her stock commanded throe times the price of others. He would mix native with Durham for milkers. For beef they are decidedly best. If bcwanted oxen, preferred Devons. Duriiam is best for this couuty. To raise good stock re quired experience ; fine cattle and horses will not grow up wild - must be cultivated. Farming 13 the nobleot avocation under the suu. Were he to begin life again, it would be as farmer. Favored mixed furming. Strongly urged such meetings as these where producers could compare notes, bñcome proficient. No one was so well cttlculated to enjoy lifo as the tiller of the soil, but to do it required training, equally as much so as the professions. Mr. Page wanted blooded Jersey atock but was unablo to flud any about thia city. Mr. Covert cited him to Mr. Woodin of York, who had them for sale. Mr. Henderson of Pittsfield, believed there was as inuch in feeding as any thing. ín answer to a question, "How to select stook ?" he would distinguish by slim horn ; straight on back; slim rauzzle. Mr. Richmond sald ho would look first at points generally; yellow muzzle ; mild eye as ovidenoe of kind disposition ; suiall, yellow horns; fine ears ; jaws well and finely set; broad chest; broad across luins; gambols well put out; escutcheon broad and well up behind; taperingtail; udder projectiug well under the belly ; teats large and wide apart, large onough to get good hold ; hair thick and fine; fine bono. This would be his guide as to good inilkers. Mr. Henderson suggested Poinologists have the floor balance of day. Mr. Baldwin said none of us knew inueh about these things. He had a lauib of three colora - yellow, black and white; doubtless ruarked af ter & cat, like which it acted. The hope of farmers lay in foreign shipments, now Tery largo. Peaches even were exported. We can send ineats, butter and cheese to Eugland at cheaper rates than they can be produced there. In this we are encouraged. We should raise the best of everything. Mr. Bauer inquired if there were any chepse faetones in the county. He understood a better quahty of Swiss cheese was made in Ohio than Switzerland. The chair informed the gentleman there were tour cheese manufuctories in Washteunw county. Mr. Baldwin bolieved premiums on fruit were too sruall to induce growers to exhibit. We must not let one departinent of our fáirs suffer. Everybody won't tttteud just to see horse exhibi:ions; somo are attructed by one thing; some by another, and we must see to it , ;hat each department is well provided ; 'or. i Mr. Kiward Scott exhibitod samples j of Bellflower, Wiigner and Green - ngs, and those present resolved themsulves temporarily into samplers. Aftor a brief diacussion over the uierta of the apples, by Messrs. Scott, ' vert, Purshall, Baldwin anri the chair, j t was moved the following delegates be i elected to attend tho aunual meeting of ] ?omologists at Lansing this week: A. j 5cott, J. S. Parshall, Jacob Ganzhorn, ' P. L. Page, J. D. Baldwin, S. W. Dorr, í Emil Bauer, F. F. Tucker. The followiug topics weru ado])ted for discussion at the next meeting : Fust, Dbeases and Eneiuies of our Orchards and Yineyards. How shall we reinrdy, avoid or cure them? St.'cond, The best breed of sheep for Washtenaw county. Third, The legal rights of the farmer. S. W. Dorr of Manchester, was requcsted to prepare a paper on the iirst topic and Chas. H. Kichmond on the two others. Adjourned to the 22d of March next.

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Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus