The Portland daily press., 1869-08-09
Maine .. an Agricultural state.

THE AGRICULTURAL STATE. a.s. s
We find in this weeks Massachusetts,
Ploughman the following generous estimate
Of the capabilities of Maine as an AgIicul-
sural State. 1t will have we trust favora-
BILE effect upon the courage Of such of our far
mers as are cherishiug difident feeling in
regard to the coming exhibition in this city,
and such as are in doubt about bringing for
ward their productions on account of an i'm
preston that they cannot compete with the
rest of New Englard. We quote:
Maine may be considered remarkable in
this respect, that she is in the long future to
draw her sustenance and wealth from land
and sea together. The produce of one is al
ways to complement the yield of the other.
1t is, indeed, a double source of prosperity.
Holland has grown rich and powerful from
its foreign commerce alone, its agriculture
being no more than mere horticulture, with
its carpet-like verdure, its fnically neat lands.
Had the thrifty natives possessed the vast
interior tracts which form the body of the
great State of Maine, there Is no estimating
the extent of their double wealth to-day.
Maine has been renowned in the past for
its fishing enterprise,-for its building, equip
ping, and sailing of vessels, particularly in
the coastwise and West India trade,,-and for
its immense and regular supplies of lumber
By these three leading industries she has at
tanned to her present status and strength.
Farming has been pushed energetically along
the coast line for certain breadth OF miles,
and up the rich alluvium lands on the courses
of the rivers. Manufacturing, too, has estab-
lshed itself widely, and mechanical pursuits
have been prosperously productive. And
though agriculture has ever been followed
and honored there, it has not been as lead
ing pursuit, like that Of ship building, of lum-
bering, or of fishing. 97'iQ o. ~ R''la sei
But the accumulation of large amounts of
capital by the efforts of an Industrious popI-
lation, the opening of the country and closer
connection of its distant parts by railroads,
the free use Of steam in, travel and naviga-
ton, the multiplication of labor-saving IN
yentions, and especially OF the implements I 2,
husbandry, united to the stimulus impaired Pa
to all branches of social life Dy tne ,sad na.sei
movements of the age, have suddenly opSneo ,slsa
an entirely new era for a great State whose
territorial area has lain virgin, a. ~ weIe,
s;nce its discovery; and we DOW Ieloice over
a. ran, start Of Maine in agricultural ef-
saS VIZ s,;.,, &C much 10y as IL 1t were altogeth-
eno.. .,,sI, discovery for the operations OF the
csrn,er This cannot in any sense be taken
90 derogatory to the character OF the soil or
~ tSs uSonuIation of Maine. On the contrary, it
e S a., admission in favor of both, viz, that
The former still contains resources capable of
Welding wealth to the cultivator, and that
the latter have been occupied with other mat
ters to such splendid advantage. II it is men
who make State, then the soil that sustains
such vigorous, hardy, and thrifty .popula-
ton as that OF our sister State OF Maine,
must possess all the elements requii ed for an
advanced civilization. ....
The people, too, are at this time manifest
ing the most enthusiastic interest In the
farming occupation, resolved to expend Eon 1t
the same prodigality of energy and industry
which is their striking characteristic. Their
growing local markets naturally stimulate