Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-09-09
agricultural.
Farmers Conpention.
DOVER, Me-. Aug. so. 1870.

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On Tuesday. after the Farmers State
Convention at Dover and Foxcroh, in
connection with the Maine Board OF Ag-
rieulture, had opened, the first regular
paper of the session was read by Col.
SWEET OF Paris, on the culture OF
THE APPLE AND APPLE TREES.
Col. SWEET said we must select the kind
of soil peculiar to the variety to be cult
waited. The best is strong, deep, slaty
soil impreguated with iron and copperas.
Granite soil is also good. Prefers seed
ling native stocks grated near the
ground. Had purchased many apples
years ago for five cents per bnshel. Not
so much depends upon preparation of soil
if ii is dry, as upon planting and after
cultivation. Native stock Is best, bat il
impos sibc TO obtain could put up with
New York trees. Gave several examples
Of paving orchards in Maine. All should
plant trees the old. the middle-aged and
the young-(or they must all live 10 re-
ceive the benefits. Care must DC exercis-
cd in transplantirg not 10 injUre their
roofs, and also in planting thcm out
The holes should DC deep and broad.
wider than the roots. Cut al broken
roots with sharp knife. Adjust all the
roots in natural and regular shape, and
cover with fine mold. Keep all trees
well mulched a. far as the roots ex-
tend and the trees generally will grow
all that is necessary 1t requires man
OF good judgment to know how 10 prune
properly. The top should be formed at
about four feet from the ground. Small
limbs may be cut OF in June and July.
large ones in the ioll-nevcr prune in the
spring Gave list of varieties, for gen
eral cultivation, and some remarks upon
packing and marketing.
The paper was laid upon the table for
future consideration and discussion.
AT the conclusion OF the above paper,
c. b. StetSon Of Lewiston. read an essay
on
COUNTRY ROADS,
Their construction and value. Mr.. Stet-
son said that all communities find their
fortunes betlered by good means OF loco
motion Cheap locomO,iou is wealth,
but cheap, quick locomotion is more. it is
civilization. Every Improvement in this
direction benefits us intellectually and
morally The expenditures made on our
country roads 10 not show the results
they should.
There is but lille Intelligent super
vision in our road building There Is no
plan of cooperation. but each district
surveyor, independently works, and how
seldom the right thing ! done at the
proper time and IN the night way Where.
ever good roads are found there is in
telIigent supervision.
Has not travelled over any continuous
mile OF road in any one Of II counties in
the Stale which may be called good road
a road should not have grade exceed
ing one foot in thirty Il is better to 60
round hin than over it, liza hill cannot
be hanked the road should go over j; in a
zig gag course. making slope OF not more
than one foot in thirty.
Crate is vital element in the con-
slruCtion Of roads. Has not seen single
zig gag road in the State. though there
arc many places where they should have
been built, Much material now used in
building roads is worse thou useless
Three methods of building roads have
been successfully followed.
Thorough drainage is the fundamental
requisite OF good road. Sometimes
thorough drainage will make good road
Of 4 poor one. bitches three feet deep,
one foot wide at the bottom and with
slope Of one foot 20 the one hundred al
least should bc made Cross drains arc
necessary, but the best thing is an under
drain running along the length OF the
center OF the road.
The covering vi roads should be water
proof, There are three methods the
TelfOrd, MeAdam, and the Concrete.
Concrete is made with lime st The bottom
covered with pebbles and broken stones.
In the McAdam covering only broken
pebbles are used, no sand or large stones.
y depth Of : lol0 inches is necessary. In
tho Ieliord system the bed is first paved
with stones Of from to : inches. This is
with pebbles and stones.
The slope of these roads Shouldbe about
inches 20 10 feet or just sufficient to turn
tue water into the bitches. Roads should
not be made browning or round like
log.
Our present expenditures ought TO give
us better roads, but durable improvement
cannot be effected in the present condition
ol things. Capitalization is not an
absolute term. Tie district system should
be supplanted by the town system. The
prime object should be to keep up the
roads, not to repair them. The town is
large enough to keep force of men at
work continuously under the supervision
of roadmastcr. who should be retained
iol wears, if he be found capable.
Waltham, Mass. follows this system.
much to the benefit OF the roads and a
saving in cost.
The popular sentiment is undoubtedly