Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-07-16
aermaltaral.
Prom the Maine Farmer.l
Talks about farksing--Noe H.
Ina the Ruts.

lot OuISclNoS inuC pOnNSt
think of our way oil "doing things,
Farming is with us here in Maine-and |
suppose il is 80 elsewhere-too much y
matter of precedent. We plant and sow
the same crops, in pretty much the same
way as our fathers did before US, and that
our neighbors are doing around Us now
without much thought rs 10 whether
these crops are adapted to our soil and
location, or whether somo other products
might not pay = better profit. We have
been travelling this old beaten way SO long
the agricultural wheels have so long NOV
ed in the same old track. that they have
formed deep ruts from which it seems
almost impossible to escape. To Illus
trate-we have been producing about the
same crops here in Maine for the last
century; we have plowed our land
planted 10 potatoes, com and beans, sow
ing grain The next year, and seeding
down with red clover, timothy aad red
top. The ultimate object OF all this
blowing. planting and sowing has been
grass and hay to grow young cattle,
Geeyes and sheep, for the Cambridge
and Brighton markets, and there Is no
doubt the business has paid. The gener,
ally prosperous and thriving condition Of
our stock farmers up 10 very recent
period proves this But with the hay
famine OF the past season. and the ruin
ously low prices OF all kinds of stock
sheep perhaps excepted change
comes over the spirit of our dreams"
We see our steers and cattle driven off
from our farms, and We have very little
money indeed to show for it. Three
wears old steers, have. in number Of
instances been actually sold in this town
for less than one.half the expense of
their keep for q single year. True, these
cattle were in rather poor condition.
But that was owing to the drouth and
grasshOppers. mention this merely TO
show how disastrous in every respect the
past season has been TO the stock farmers
OF Maine. But having got rid OF the
most of our stock, is it not a good time
now to
Get out Of the old Ruts :
There may still be locations in Maine
whore stock raising will Tor years 10
come be the principal business. On
rough. cheap lands. away from markets,
there eau be little doubt that the produc
ton of wool, mutton. and neat stock will
pay better than anything else. Blu, on
farms in middle and southern Maine
believe a new system of husbandry must
be adopted, and viii give my reasons
therefore in as few words rs possible:
/. The great plains and prairies and
mountain regions OF the west and south
west are fully capable OF producing at a
cheap rate, beet sufficient for the wants
OF our great eastern cities-perhaps for
the whole country. To bring this beef
TO market, the great PaciGce Railroad ha,
been constructed. Two rival lines, one
north. the other south are now contem-
plated-one in actual process OF construc-
ton. Both of these road will no doubt
be completed within a few years. With
these three great through lines from Ore
gon, California, Lower California and
Texas, in active operation, beet iattened
upon the western plains and the table
lands OF Texas. can DO delivered in New
York at prices that would nov be deem.
ed fabulous, and with which it would
DO Absurd Ior US who arc compelled 10
iced our cattle seven months in the year
upon high priced hay and corn. to COM
pete.
?. There are certain manufactured
articles produced in perfection only upon
the farms Of the eastern and middle
States, for which there is large and
constantly increasing demand. Fore
most among these articles are choice but
ter, cheese, canned iruits and vegetables
These believe can be easily and profit.
ably produced here in Maine.
Cheese Factories,
and corn and fruit canning establishments
are the great want Of Maine farmers
to-day, and we mrSt hare them. BY
working up our raw material, by bocom-
ing manufacturers As well as producers,
We shall not only enrich our farms with
the refuse of our products, but we shall
keep our young men and women at home.
By greatly diminishing the bulk we
shall save thousands of dollars TO the
State yearly in the cost Of transportation.
8. As our farms grow older the small
fruits once so abundant are last diSap-
pearing, There is q growing demand in
all OF our large villages and cities Tor
such small fruits as strawberries, rasp-
berries, currents, cranberries, goosbsrries
and cherries. These are now mostly
supplied from the fruit farms of Nsssa-
chuSetts, New York and New Jersey
All of them can be produced here in the
greatest abundance and with profit 10
the grower. In connection with these
such vegetables as onions, csbbages and
squashes, may be proftably raised near
our larger cities and villages. To Own
ers OF small places the keeping of bees
and poultry also offers pleasant and pro.
htable employment.
4. There are thousands OF acres of
rough, rocky and unproductive land in
the State of Maine now almost worthless.
that if planted to apple trees and proper