Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-23

A NOBEL FARM.

why Suouiu idrmlng not De Sclont1nc
Because the manufacturer labors in the
scientific way, his profits are greater and
surer than those OF the agriculturist who
has neither machinery nor system but it
Is the unreasonable custom of many to
sneer at all innovations. and to look at all
methodc variations upon old usages as
the fancful and Improbable schemes of
visionaries with more money than COM
nonsense. 1t is the people who sneer
that are usually most deficient in the latter
quality. however; and had they a little
more of it they might perceive that care
full bookkeeping and the adoption of i'm
proved methods and implements are as
necessary in farming as in any other busi-
ness.
In side hollow in that hill from which
Ltchfield first became visible to US sever
al very distinct echoes can be obtained.
and this responsiveness Of the "purple
glens" gave name to this farm. It is
Echo Farm pretty and POLITICALLY sug-
gestive name, indeed, which conjures up
visions of lOveliness. and sets one to
dreaming Of INTERVENING vines knitting
their plant tendrels and sweet scented
leaves through the hospital porch and open
lattice: the checkered orchard of fruity
abundance the garralous brook that new
er tires of its ow n monody the reverberant
hills that appease lite's trumoil with their
easy undulations lofty barns mossy with
age; and Gathering mills down in the Sc
clusions OF grassy hollows. But, alas
dear reader model farming is not idyllic
or Arcadian; it is inflexibly utilitarian it
keeps all its buildings In perfect state of
repair; it subordinates the picturesque, if
it ever recognizes it; it pulls down the
old mill because that venerable is in the
way of the rectangular new dairy; it d.
verts the brook from Its ferny course into
the most commonplace of earthen pipes;
it tears away the vines that obscure the
light, and 1t looks upon every thing with
a pair of the most practical eyes set Ia q
head that weighs. measure. audits, and
analyzes with chemical exactness. The
proprietor of Echo Farm conducts il as q
manfactory. A record is kept of the milk
and butter produced by each COW for each
day, each month, each year; all the feed
is weighed, and the quantity entered upon
books, both that purchased and that pro.
duced; and seperate account is kept of
the yield of each field. Nothing is wasted,
nothing done by guessing. and nothing pas
ses unrecorded. The implements are OF
the latest or most approved model. Three
sets OF "horse" hay-fOrks are in use. BY
which hay is unloaded at the rate of ton
in four forkfus and in four minutes, in
cluding in some instances the carrige of
the hay 100 feet. The other machines al
so embody some novel labor-saving prin-
ciples. No manure or fertilizers are found
necessary, except the 1,5O0 loads made
upon the farm, and sort of muck, of
which there are several beds.
The history of the farm is interesting.
A gentleman of education, intelligence
and wealth came to Litchfeld some nine
Years ago in search of summer home.
He had the most superficial knowledge of
farming and entertained no intention of
entering that business. But having pur-
| chased sixty-six acres and cleared them,
he purchased additional tracts. which be-
came the nucleus OF Echo Farm, whose
| area is now about 400 acres. His interest
was enlisted in the raising OF choice stock.
and beginning with herd of five, he has
gradually increased the number to 100,
all the herd being pure Jersey, with au-
thentic and valuable pedigrees. The rocky
fields were cleared, laid out and inclosed
by massive stone walls. Old and inade-
quate buildings on the consolidated land
were demolished, and new ones of i'm
proved pattern erected. In 1873 a barn
66x25 teet was built; an addition, 1OOx4O
feet. was made the following year; and
in 1875 another addition was made 19lx35
feet. These three buildings form the
three sides OF the barn-yard. They are
built of pine. upon massive granite foun-
| dations about two feet wide, which are
laid in cement. All the woodwork is
painted soft drab color. even the pro-
prietor's residence, and the telegraph
poles that line the roadway. A desire for
simplicity and durability. in preference to
ornamentation or showiness, Is visible
everywhere there is no litter and there
are no gaps in the fences or walls, which
are from Is to "a inches in thickness,
every crevice being filled like a mosaic
with stone that exactly fits it. Care,
thrift and ingenuity have acted like three
charms. When the fields were being
cleared. such large quantities Of stones
were gathered that some perplexity arose
as to where they should be put. Many
hundreds of loads were used in the foun-
dations Of the buildings. in the fences and
in filing ravines, but more remained, and
these were deposited upon several sterile
- l.