The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-19
About Some Good Farms i'm New S.Iou-

cester
NEW GLOUCESTER, Oct. Is, 1868.
To the Editor of the Press:
have no Intention of making an attempt
to describe the beautiful and variegated col.
ors Of the autumnal leaves that everywhere
meet the the eye, but leave that to the poets
and men and women more sentimental than
your humble correspondent. But 1 remark,
enpassant, that the trees, the past season,
nave had very vigorous growth and their
leaves, earlier than usual, ripened into rich
and gorgeous hues. l have never seen them
present mere beauteous picture than they
do this autumn. The fields and pastures too,
are yet draped in "living green," and tall feed
is abundant. Cattle will come to the barn
this season in good condition.
This ancient and honorable town has not
made very rapid strides in Improvement dur
ing the past halt century, and vet on tbe
whole the farming interests have advanced
and many OF the farmers plow deeper, pul-
verlze the earth more thoroughly, are more
saving OF manure, and cultivate better than
some OF their fathers did. But l am sorry
to note the fact that the intervale lands. Of
which there is a broad area through whi, b
Royals river runs, are not so productive as
they were Thirty or forty years ago.
In many places wild grasses of poor quail
ity have sprung up and rooted out the better
kinds, so that some portions OF their natural
ly rich and fertile lands are much deteriora-
ted and hardly compensate the hay maker
for his labor in cutting the grass. Some lots
ale well cultivated and yield good crops. On
some OF the upland farms improvements OF a
substantial character have been made. Mr..
Andrew Spring OF your city has put INTO hrs
barn this srason thirty tons OF good hay cut
IRON land which dozen years ago did not
produce tithe OF that amount In fact he
has made many acres OF very valuable and
productive lands out Of some swamps which
few years ago was hardly worth pistareen
per acre. These once cold, wet, dnproduc-
tive swamps are converted into beautiful and
fertile fields where the moving machine has
done grand business the preseason. The
work of Improvement has been accomplished
by understanding deep plowing and thorough
ly manuring with various kinds OF fertil-
lzers. 1t costs money to do this work, but
the fields win now pay up the old scores and
leave good margin.
Two ears ago Mr.. Spring sent home from
Buenos Ayres, South america, two pairs OF
ducks of large size weighing about as much as
geese. Last summer he sent home from the
same country two pairs more of somewhat
smaller size. These ducks are great LAYERS
and very prolific. There is one young brood
OF twelve now about as large as the blue
winged teal, and most beautiful fowls they
are. With proper care through the winter
season, these ducks must be more profitable
to the farmer than turkeys or even hens
The'egss are much larger than those OF hens
These fowls appear to be hardy and they
are most excellent breeders, and make fine
show in the tarm-yard. He has four hogs OF
the pure Chester breed that would attract
much attention at any agricultural exhibition.
At killing time they will weigh at least four
hundred pounds each. He has also an AYR
shire heifer calf as large and ine as ever saw.
His Ayrshire bull is noble animal. 1t is
all very well tor the inhabitants Of this an
clent town to have nan make money in a
far distant cline aud spend it in agricultural
Improvements among them. 1t helps pay
the taxes. Ss .,fs-t.
Mr.. Otis Nelson, the Democratic candidate
for Representative this tall, has a good farm
which he manages much more skllifully than
he does his politics. BE lost his election, bu
has fine field of corn and his apple trees
have yielded hundreds of barrels OF most ex-
cellent ruit His yield of corn will exceed fif-
ty bushels per acre. The truth is, Mr. Nelson
is more at home in the agricultural than. in
the political field. In the former field he adds
wealth to the nation, but in the latter, |
think, he would not much advance the inter-
ests Of his country. Unsuccessful competi
tor for the office of Representative, Mr.. A. c.
Chandler eyinces a good ambition IN the
cause of agriculture. At our recent Statt
Fair he purchased some valuable stock, and
his new barn is one OF the finest in New Eng
land. These are good beginnings, and L trust
he will continue to make valuable improve
ments in farming. He may be assured that
he cannot find more noble and useful EN-
plo, ment in this world. He has the means
OF making broadmark in this primeval pro
| fession.