New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-01-05
APOOSTOOK AND MIME Sofa.

the Editor Of The " Y. Tribua~
SIR: noticed some little time since article in
youI paper directing attention TO Aroostook County,
in Maine, as attractive point for emigrants, and
have also seen similar articles in The Y. Journal Of
Commerce and other papers of influence and large cir
culation. Were these simply commendatoy of the re-
gon praised, should have nothing TO say in reply; for
aibly would be glad to my native State in
creasing in population and consequent wealth But
most Of there articles and especially editorials in The
AroOstoOk Pioneer paper lately started in that Coun.
y accompany their praises OF Aroostook County with
nvidous fpgs at the West especially Minnesota which
has been the great point Of attrstionfo emigration
from New-Er gland. Believing with the young lady
read of, that " companions il odorons," / still
think that, side has been thus prominently and
fully presented the other side should have hearing.
venture to offer for publication brief statement Of
the comparative advantages of the two localities
From the fact that AroostoOk CouEty WAS my home
for nine years. and that have lived in Minnesota
more than four years, think | have better oppor-
tunities for comparing the two places than most Of
those who have written upon the subject; the majority
Of whom have never even visited either locality, the
remainder only oDe
In 1913 bought farm near Fort Fairfield, in letter
ID, range One, the best farming township think, in
Aroostook County The soil Of that region 10 excel.
lent the growth If timber heavy the land les bean
fully in large swes, covered wi h mixed growth Of
maple, beech and yellow BIRCH while along the water
courses and in the swamps, which are not there too
numerous there is dense growth Of 6r, spruce cedar
and hacknaiack exceedingly convenient for building
and fencing. Scatterp frs and spruce grow also the
hardwood ridges and arr und the benches Of the
bills or swels, and sometimes their tops large,
sound pines, bull ssplngs," used TO grow but these
last have long snce pretty generally disappeared BE-
fore the lumbeTman's Ak in the settling townships,
though perhaps enough still remain for the settlers
buildings.
The crops, too, looked splendidly while growing.
superb fields Of grain, until the eonatng Of the A.
gust Jros as in Aroostook County; but that pre- na-
ture kiln frost wac during the nine years Of my resi-
dsnce there sure Il come, with the exception OF one
year 1886 think. The soil is Wen adapted to all
the email grairs ard large crops Of oats barley, pota
tees &C.. have always been raised there. The virgin
soil stimulated by the ashes Of the immense growth Of
timber burnt upon the soil in clearing IT, produces
always prcdieious growth Of straw, and generally
large crops Of all grains bot Injured by frost. have
raised ON land - 10 60 bushels Of oats weighing
"a Ibe. to the bushel and land from which crop
Of potatoes had been taken 90 bushes per acre weigh
so bushels per acre, and barley and rye yield in pro-
portion, while tcpips especially productive. Bot
tsrmers want something more than these to live on,
ard always try 10 raise wheat AID corn. Toe latter i,
dIN0't inraria5ty no crop, and my own observations
and experience, AS well the uniform statements Of
mers 10 NE during my residence there, sstsded me
that at least Of the wheat raised there,
taking year with another il frost bitten, and
secaeLtly almost worthless. Whether their climate
has Moderated since Isft Aroostook, 49,, cannot
say. II spesk What DO kn0" Of the state OF things
while was there. | have sowed grsin in Aroostook
in April THE 18th and 18th, but the ground sterwsrd