Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-04-27
!: $arm anO Aonsfbolo.
c,a char,a- i re g.:k.a Business.


Bein. in Lewiston one dsy last week,
We made a brief call on Mr.. l.. b. Knight
of the firm of /. b. Knight 4 Co. whose
name ha- become quite well known
throughout the safe. in connection with
the business Of putting up and selling
Maine pickles-aud who has, not inappro-
pr.ateiy. been popularity styled the Maine
pickle man.. What he don't know about
pickles is hardly worth learning
Many years ago Mr.. Knight had his at
tcatiou drawn to the tact that the con-
sumption of pickles 10 this State was enor-
nous. and that while Maine possessed the
requisite conditions for growing cucum-
ber,. and the people knew enough to make
good marketable pickles. more than $500
900 annually were being lsent out OF the
safe for western pickles. II was with the
view OF stopping part ofthis money from
gong ont Of the state, and building up
new industry in the State which should be
q benefit to our people; that Mr.. Knight
decided 10 engage IN tie business-a busl-
Le>>> which was unknown in Maine I'LL he
took hold Of 1t. Al first be commenced n
q small way, doing a small business and
acqglru. knowledge OF il nice points BY
actual experience. Gradually the business
ha- been growing on his hands. and j.
every year assuming larger proportions
Last season he manufactured into pickles
about one thousand barrels Of cucumbers
besides large quantities of caulhowers and
tomatoes. the latter OF which were made
into mixed pickles and chowchow-a fan
cy relish tor the table which IS much e
tcemed. This stock IS purchased all along
the line Of the railroads in Androscoggin.
oxford, Franklin and Lincoln counties,
and farmers who have land suited to the
growing ofsuch crops find il profitable to
engage in the culture OF cucumber,, cab
bage, caulihower and tomatoes for this
business, the former OF course being most
IIa In y ! t il demand.
market Mr.. Knight s4lers for the pickle
..,-,ed into fine, mediums and c0AH be as
.a,.-,I Grade. being of the following sizes
So. ,brae inches long. mediums four, and
-. III above hour inches As cut from
day 70 - .ry should De placed in barrels
and s'ou.d le pat down in strong brine
- q Turks Island salt The plan OF
'f--fn in salt simply. Is no; recon-
-s''1ed- A co'4r or board with weight
Aeep ihe cQcumbers under the brine
sAou.d always be used
=, - preparing the cueumbers for pickles
MT might green =
hoe {" sucn way a. to make a plump. nne
looking, solid and crisp pickle-the process
consisting Of soaking them in cold water
brought up 10 a moderate heat in which
the cucumbers remain but short time
The English pickles are not "greeued" at
all. bu; have sort Of brown look-aud for
certain markets Mr.. Knight puts up large
quantities Of pickles after This style No
alum i used, and only the purest white
wire vinegar, which is manufactured ex-
pressly for his own use.
The business which Mr. Knight has built
up has induced 4 good many farmers 10 en-
gaze somewhat largely IN the growing OF
cucumbers. and they have no doubt found
i profitable 10 DO so. Last season however.
more cucumbers were grown in the State
ihan in any one year before. The west has
gone largely into the pickle business. and
Chicago alone manufactures and sells in
eastern states an immense amount Bos-
ton pickles are also sold largely all through
Maine-so that in this. a. in most other
kinds Of business there is now greater com
petition and a smaller margin for profit /
than heretofore. Still, like the growing Of
corn. wheat and hay. the growing OF Gu |
cumbers in our own State even, may be re-
g4rded a a substantial. standard business .
eflhe farm-for Ike the consumption Of \
Hour, the consumption OF pickles, will be
steady positive business. which will call
tor the growing and manufacture OF large
quantities 10 supply the demand which the
great consumption makes. Generally far
mers who grow cucumbers realize from
50 to 500 per acre FOR the crop; and
moderate attention to this business. will
not disaPpoiut those who engage in it,
Farmer.