CORTLAND COUNTY FARMERS CLUB DISCUSSES WINTERING STOCK

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February 3, 1888.

County Farmers’ Club.

   The attendance at the club was quite fair notwithstanding the severe weather.

   In the absence of President Blodgett, who was unable to attend, Mr. Crandall was called to the chair. The question of "Wintering Stock" was taken up.

   Mr. Rowley: Great progress has been made during the past twenty years, as regards the comfort of stock. It is not a good plan to see how many cattle can be wintered but rather to see how well they can be wintered. It is all important that they go into winter quarters in good condition and are kept free from vermin. I have been asked why the question, "Does it pay to feed cattle meal at $28 a ton?" was not answered. I think it pays to feed some even at that price, if necessary, to keep stock from falling off.

   Mr. Calvert: I believe in keeping stock well. In summer if feed gets short I think it a good plan to feed grain, if only a little. By this system they are in good condition in the fall and a fat animal in the fall is half wintered.

   Secretary: The question is not being fairly put. It was not whether it paid to keep cattle on short feed, but if in addition to plenty of good hay there was an object in feeding meal or other grain at the present prices of butter.

   Mr. —: I am keeping one cow here in the village. She was taken off from grass in the fall and by liberal feeding of grain the yield of milk has doubled.

   Mr. Purvis: I think there is far more advantage gained in feeding grain to horses than cattle and sheep. Where cows are doing will on hay I hardly think at present prices it would pay to feed grain. I am of the opinion that two tons of good hay are equal to one ton of meal. It is not now thought necessary by good farmers to let cattle remain out doors very long exposed to cold winds. They are better off in the barn.

   Mr. Harmon: It is essential that cattle begin winter in good condition. I do not think it pays to feed much grain in winter except for a few weeks before dropping calves. I turn my cattle out for water twice a day and let them back in again in a short time. This gives them all the exercise they need. In feeding hay I feed but twice a day. I think it is better than to feed oftener. I like to feed grain to cattle but think it is often done at a loss. On good clover hay sheep will come through alright.

   Mr. Crandall: I think cattle will leave less oats when fed twice a day than if fed oftener. When feeding cows for milk I think they should be watered twice a day but it is not necessary with other stock. As I think of the great improvement in the care of stock that thirty years has made, I feel I am unable to describe it. Very few feed from stacks now, and once it was quite common.

   Mr. Purvis: Has any one had any experience in warming water for stock?

   Mr. Crandall: Recently I visited the barns of Messrs. Squires & Waters at Marathon and could but admire the comfort afforded the cattle in warm stables.

   By request of the club Mr. Stoppard was asked to give some information about marketing milk in New York.

   Mr. Stoppard: I was visited a short time ago by some gentlemen from New York who were desirous of ascertaining if there could be sufficient encouragement in this section to justify putting on a milk train. By arrangement of the New York Milk association with the railroad the freight rates are equalized with points nearer the city so that the distance is not an objection. The net prices the past season would seem to have been fairly remunerative to the producers. The milk in winter is especially profitable.

   All present were so much interested in the subject that it was decided to take up "Marketing Milk" for discussion at the next meeting, February 4.

   Club adjourned.

   Cortland, January 21,

   C. M. Bean, Sec'y.

PAGE TWO/EDITORIALS.

   The Standard rushes to the defense of Dist. Attorney Bronson, who failed to enter up the proper judgment in the O'Neil case [alleged factory arson--CC editor], and promulgates the astounding doctrine that it is not the duty of the party succeeding in the trial of a law suit to enter up judgment, but that this duty devolves upon the losing party. Where the Standard finds its authority for such a statement no other fellow can find out. The attempt to shoulder the blame for the District Attorney's incompetency on the defendant’s counsel, will hardly work. They have no power to enter the proper judgment and can only appeal from such judgment as the District Attorney puts on record.

   If we mistake not, this is the third case during District Attorney Bronson's term that has been sent back by the General Term because he had failed to enter up the proper judgment. The talk that such blundering work does not cost the county anything is nonsense, as the bill which Mr. Bronson presented to the Board of Supervisors at its last session abundantly proves. It would pay the county to employ Ex-District Attorney Palmer to teach the present incumbent how to enter judgment in criminal cases.

LITTLE YORK.

   EDITOR DEMOCRAT:—We have got an enemy. We supposed that out honest upright course and straightforward democracy made us a shining light and without an enemy. For forty straight years we have never failed to vote at the general election and town meetings, and never failed "to get there Eli,"—and every time voted the democratic ticket. We have endeavored to keep our democratic mind so well drilled that no weeds of doubt or suspicion of insincerity of principles should ever enter or find lodgment therein.

   And right here is where our enemy has taken an undue advantage of us. In the good book we read that an enemy came upon the wheat field of the good man and sowed tares [weeds] and thus the whole crop was ruined. So our enemy has come upon us unawares and is sowing tares in our democracy.

   Now we are so much like the late General Grant that we could not refuse a present of a corkscrew or a meeting house, and our enemy probably knows this trait of our character. Thus he has proceeded to business by sending us the "Toledo Blade" with a marked label with one year paid up. Just think of it, and give me your sympathy.

   For fifty-two consecutive weeks we have got to suffer the tares and thistles to fall to our democratic fallow ground. We might throw it in the waste basket but from our principle of not looking a gift horse in the mouth.

   We read all about "free trade" Cleveland, Bob Lincoln for president— campfire republicans—high license prohibition— Sherman's bloody shirt—but nothing about running Fred Grant for president. He is my candidate from reading the Blade and in the future we may have more to say on this particular tare which is growing in our field.

   The Blade has also given us some new light on the tariff question and next week we may have something to impart to the readers of the DEMOCRAT on this subject. 
Yours in front of the enemy,

ULI SLICK. [local reporter’s pen name—CC editor.]

VILLAGE OF MALONE BURNED.

$200,000 Worth of Property Destroyed—A Citizen Killed.

   UTICA, N. Y., Jan. 29.—Malone, Franklin county, N Y., was visited by a terrible fire early this morning. It was first discovered in the crockery store of M. C. Fuller, situated in the Empire end Howard house block, and was then under full headway. Owing to the hydrants being frozen up, no water could be obtained from them and long delay was caused from the fact that connections had to be made at the river and the water forced up by steamers.

   Meanwhile the fire had completely gutted the above store and communicated to the Howard House, one of the finest hotels in Northern New York, and was under good headway when the water was ready to pour on the flames.

   During the burning of the Howard House an explosion occurred, presumably of gas, blowing out a portion of the block walls and killing Isaac Chester, a prominent business man of Malone, who was coming out of the bank, and injuring several others. The whole Empire block, including hotel, opera house and all the stores in the block, were completely destroyed.

   Following is the list of losers: Frank Tallman, proprietor of the Howard House; Ferguson & Merritt, proprietors of the opera house; G. M. Shaun, Hardware; M. & C. H. Brown, carriages; M. C. Tuller, glassware and crockery ; Cantwell & Maine, Lawyers; Abner Croft, furniture; Farmers’ National bank; Sanford & Bartlett, millinery; Thomas Carpenter, clothier; Umpter & Barnum, dry goods.

   An estimate of the total loss places it at $200,000, with probably $75,000 insurance.

CINCINNATUS.

   Owing to the severe weather which lasted five days, Madam Humor as well as the rest of our citizens was glad to sit by the fire as that was found the most agreeable occupation. Hence a scarcity of news this week.

   The bad condition of the roads prevented the stage from making its accustomed trips, so that we had no mails from Wednesday  until Monday.

   Quite a number of our young people attended the donation at German last Wednesday evening, and were obliged to remain all night on account of the storm.

   Fred Harvey, of West Hill, one of the Academy students is dangerously ill, and doubts are entertained of his recovery.

   The donation that was to have been held last Friday evening at Totman's hotel, for the benefit of D. Burroughs, was necessarily postponed one week.

   The Wight Bros. give another social hop this evening. The boys must be getting engaged in the work, as this is the third one they have given within a short time.

   Messrs. J. Kingman and B. Dwight who have been visiting friends in town have returned to their home in Binghamton.

   Mr. Arthur Meade, who has been visiting relatives and friends in this vicinity for a few weeks past, started for his home in Washington Territory last week. His brother John accompanied him. Johnnie will be greatly missed by the many friends whom he has won for himself by his honesty and uprightness, and they all unite in wishing him the best of success.

   Frank Livermore and his sister Verna, of Lincklaen, spent the week in town with friends.

   John Wildman and wife, of South Otselic, visited friends in town one day last week.

   Mr. Luther Lull of McDonough, visited his daughter, Mrs. Chas. Grant, last week.

"QUEER PEOPLE" [local reporter’s pen name—CC editor.]

Toledo Blade: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blade_(newspaper)