Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-10-01
The Aroostook Excursion.

Thursday morning tor Pfosque lsie ~
attend the Cattle Show and Fair when
opened on that day. The weather was
unfavorable for successful exhibition 3
bright and cloudless morning soon chang
ing to clouds, fog and drizzling rain. But
there could be no postponement ON ac-
count of the weather and the party was
on the road at an early hour. Some oil
US took the longer route by the way oil
Maple Grove, this being the road travelled
by us twenty years ago. But how changed
since that time Beautiful fields border
the road and extend back Tor mile,
smooth as lawn, and showing every
evidence OF The highest fertility and rich
ness, while neat aOd comfortable iarm-
houses with large barns and convenient
buildings give abundant testimony OF
industry and thrift. Tho entire twelve
miles presented succession OF beautiful
landscapes such us we have rarely wit
nessed in any other section OF the country.
Large fields which had been devoted 10
tillh were covered with golden stubble
and in some instances the grain was in
the shook, while the broad areas devoted
to grass boro an aftermath having AL the
freshness and verdme OF June.
Most of the party reached Pressure Isle
before noon and were Hospitality received
and entertained at the comfortable homes
in aud near the village. Presque Isle
shows the same growth and progress
that we havo Witnessed at other places
since we came into the county. Twenty
years ago a few Struggling and general
ly unfinished buildings made up the ham
let. Now the neat aud comfortable
homes are many, while on the principal
street are numerous stores and other
places of business. We found quarters
with our friend DR.. Parker. editor OF the
North Star, who. though little wild and
orratic in his politics, Is nevertheless =
right down good fellow and with his ex-
cellent wife did everything in his power
to make his guests comfortable, in which
he admirably succeeded. The Doctor is
much more hostile To rings than 30 the
Republican party which no has hereto
fore sustained, and his utilization with the
greenbackers has been only for the pur-
pose of breaking the Aroos:ook INA
chine The same is true OF large
number OF Aroos,ook voters.
In the afternoon We visited the Hall
and Fair Grounds. The attendance WAS
small on account of the rain, and the en-
tries in all the departments wero much
less than they would have been had the
day been pleasant. Notwithstanding al
this, the show was very croditable. The
stock was exceptionally good Herds
were entered by John Allen. {. + A.
Johnson, J. Plummer, II. e. o. Green
wood. Charles Tarbel, F. Hayden, Geo.
II. Ackley, II. H. Cook, S d. Bu,tertield,
G. Hayford, q. A. Parsons. l.. h. Park
hurst and j. II. Currer. Grades seem to
be popular in this section, the Short Horn
Leading off and Devon following next.
We saw no thoroughbred Jerseys and but
few grades. In one herd we noticed
some tine Ayrshire COWS and in another a
Hols,ein bull. All the stock was in line
condition, and how could it be otherwise
with such pastursge as Aroostook affords?
At the exhibition we attended here twenty
years ago which was nearly a month
later than this, only one specimen OF corn
was seen and that was not fully ripe. On
this occasion there were ten or more en-
tries Of corn all well grown and riponed.
The question of whether corn can he sue
cessiully grown here. which twenty years
ago was in doubt, seems 10 DO fully set
tied. The seasons are evidently soften
ing and frightening year by year, rs the
forests are cut away and early varieties OF
Indian corn can now be cultivated with 3
reasonable prospect OF u good crop. Still
but little corn is grown in the county for
the reason that wheat is much more
profitable crop. The specimens OF wheat
on exhibition were particularly fine. The
straw was free from rust and presented o
bright golden color, the heads long and
foil and the grain fully developed.
Vegetables such rs beets including the
sugar beeI, cabbages, turnips, onions,
squashes and pumpkins were on exhibit
ton OF remarkable growth and develop
ment. We saw none better u, the State
Fair The display OF fruit WAS small and
its cultivation is not yet successfully car
riod on. The people have expended so
much in trying to get orchards from plant
log western trees, that they arc nearly
discouraged. Tho most succes siul eX-
pcriments thus far, have been by grating
the hardy varieties into the crab; in this
way some excellent trees have been pro-
duced. and sufficiently hardy to winter.
rne hest apple on exhibit was the Ouch
ess OF Oldonburg called across the line,
the New BrunswickeT" This is sue
CT ssiully grown in various parts of tho
county and is an excellent apple tor ea-
ing and cooking purposes. Fall apples
ara much mora snccessfullv raised than