Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-06

HEREFORD STocK-A COOP CROP OF
ROoTs.-FURIHER IMPROVEMENT.
J. r. BodweIl's ..plaything," financial
failure, is what some people call this
farm in FarmingdaIe. Others, who per-
haps are better informed. say that Mr..
Bodwell knows what he is about and will
eventually make If a profitable investment.
But whether Hallowell's granite king is
farming for recreation or for money it mat
tiers not One thing is very evident, that
is that through the enterprise and album
dant resources Of its proprietor. won
derful metamorphosis has been wrought
in the condition Of this farm. and under
the master hand Of its gentIemanly and
intelligent foreman, MIR. Wallace
Carter, has been transformed within
few years from sterile, worn out state
SO characteristic Of many keBnebec county
places, into a productive, orierlyplanta-
ton.
The farm which comprises some three
hundred acres Of land. the most Of which
lies in Farmingdale. the rest in Manches-
ter. Is charmingly situated between two
bodies Of water known in local vernacular
as "Jimmie's, and Hutchinson's ponds
Between these two lakelets stretches the
famous meadow land, some $50 acres in
all. through which meanders a small
stream. where in pristine times the dill
gent beaver dwelt. Here is the scene Of
Mr.. Bodwell's most extensive operations.
Formerly q large part Of the land. besides
being covered with dense growth OF
brush. was so wet as to be wholly unfit
for cultivation. The bushes were soon
made way with, many being pulled up by
the roots. The bog was also thoroughly
ditched and Hutchinson's pond was
drained down some two or three feet, so
as not to flow back and submerge the
land. The result of this system Of drain
age was almost miraculous. The
bog so springy and crude which
heretofore had been wellnigh valueless.
was wrought into dry fertile fields well
adapted to the cultivation of nearly all
crops. Indeed, MIR. Carter informs us
that this land can be worked earlier in the
spring than the upland near the road. and
located so as to be easily accessible from
all parts oil the farm is limestone ledge.
This stone being quarried out. seven
kilns amounting in all to 1850 casks were
burned. Many of these casks were spread
over several acres of the meadow land. on
which il worked admirably AS fertilizer.
neutralizing the sour acid element pos
sessed by the soil. Some of the lime was
composted with muck; also ashes with
muck. and the two being spread on the
upland side by side, no difference could
be discovered in the result. Enough lime
is now on hand for next years use. 1t is
of course unfit for commercial purposes.
At the present time there are some %
acres under cultivation. besides six more
from which the rocks are being taken out
The barn 40 X 100 feet is "a commodi-
Gus structure and sits with the remainder
Of the buildings at the lower extremity of
''Jimmie's" pond. At the northwest
corner of the barn and Immediately be-
meath il, is the sio. the latest innovation in
cattle-feeding. and an economizer which
is destined to fairly revolutionize the whole
system of farming. The size of the silo
is 40 feet in length by IL in width, and Is
In height. II Is built up | | feet out of solid
masonry feet thick and cemented so as
to be water tight. The bottom is also of
stone cemented. The sides. up feet
from the top of the masonry. are closed
up with two thicknesses of planned boards
The process of filling was very simple The
green corn fodder was carted to the silo.
where. rapidly passing through powerful
cutter run by horse power. the stalks were
cut three times to the inch. when. drop
ping into the bottom of the pit. they were
evenly distributed and trod soli,lly.down
by workmen. In this manner - acres
Of fodder corn, and the stalks from three
acres OF field corn were packed in until
the mass was ten feet in depth. upon
which. after being leveled off. a plank
covering was laid and weighted down
with l5 tons of stone. Mr. Carter has al
ready commenced feeding ont the en-
silage TO the amount of one bushel per day
to each animal in connection with a small
amount of hay. He says the stock thrives
well under this mode of feeding. The
ensilage has sort of an acid taste. is grey
ish green in color. and is slightly moist.
Adjoining the silo is the root cellar
26x2l feet, and feet in depth. This Gel
lar is nearly filed with beets. lurnips.
carrots and cabbages, some | 800 bushels
in all. Two acres of turuips Welded L.
800 bushels. one Of yellow globe bee,s
500. and one-half acre of cabhages two
tons. All were raised on the bog land
with very little dressing. Under the re-
mainder of the barn is the cellar proper.
where the dressing is deposited and pro-
tected from the weather. Ranged along
in the barn are Is head of whitc-faced. i'm
ported Hereford heiters meekly standing.
totally unaware Of their value and that
they were born in Victoria's realms.
They are really tine-looking animals and
deserve commendation. Further along in
the barn is yoke OF massive oxen and
four work horses for use on the farm. In
the piggery and sheep house l0x26 feet.
are about dozen hogs of the Berkshire
and White Chester breeds. These are fed
on corn and beets. which constitute their
whole living. Last year the same swine
were fed on turnips, which did not give
satisfaction. Eighty-nine sheep are kept
on the farm, mostly Cotswolds and South
downs Besides the roots. a variety OF
other crops was raised. among which were
$50 bushels Of shelled corn which grew
on three acres; five acres of India wheat
yielding 81 bushels; l-2 acres of oats on
which were spread 100 casks of lime. esii-
mated to yield > l-2 tons TO the acre.
The developing of this farm has been
great boon to laboring men in the
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