Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-01-11

employ more persons IN the cotton mills,
than the State of Maine. The growth OF
this department Of industry is shown by tine
following statistics: In 1870 the number OF
looms in the State was 9,9O2 the number
Of spindles, 459.112; the number Of bales
of cotton used was 40 900; the number OF
persons employed, 9,439 In 1880 the mum
Der Of looms vas 1878; spindles, 695, 1924;
bales Of cotton, ll2,3sl employees, | ,s64.
AGRICULTURE
A great statesman once said "Agricul-
ture feeds Us, il clothes us, without il We
could not have manufactures, we should not
have commerce these all stand together
like pillars IN q cluster, the largest in the
centre, tha, largest is Agriculture" The
State Of Name furnishes all the natural re-
quisites and advantages for successful agri-
culture. unlimited commerce and extensive
manufactures. IL has an area Of $1,000
square miles or % 400 900 acres its settled
area covers only one-half of its territory,
and measures 7,s9j square miles. A large
part Of this territory is sparsely settled,
5000 square miles Of lis inhabited area hay.
ing only from two TO six inhabitants to a
square mile. We admit there are many
square miles Of land which would require
extensive drainage and costly cultivation for
q livelihood, but there is little land so bar
ren that Intelligent labor cannot make it
valuable. and there are thousand. Of acres
Of unimprovrd land in the State of Maine,
vith as deep and rich a soil a. can be found
elsewhere, where all the staple agricultural
products Of New England can be raised. and
this with the raising Of sheep and other
stock would furnish ample reward 10 a skill
ful and industrious farmer. We invite those
seeking new homes TO examine the unim.
proved and rich farming lands of Aroostook
county and other portions of our State. now
near the markets in consequence Of new
railroad facilities. In cereal productions.
Name makes good record The Depart
ment Of Agriculture informs Us that the soil
OF Maine produces more uckwheat per
acre than that OF any other State In the
Weld OF corn to the acre. only six States IN
the Union make better exhibit. the aver
age being thirty four bushels per acre.
which Is only five bushels behind Michigan.
the State having the largest production.
In rye. Maine is the tenth State, and IN po-
tAtoes the same but in hay, it is the thir-
ueth State IN its yield per acre, which is -,-
ldence that more cultivation and fertilizer.
arc needed On our extended and wasted
fields. In the wear 1879, Maine produced
per acre l6 100 per cent more corn and
b-lo more wheat than the average Weld of
these crops IN the United States In all
these staple productions Of the farm. Maine
IL ahead of Vermont and Rhvde Island Of
the Fast, and leaves behind her the great
agricultural States of Indiana, Illinois, Wis
eonsin. Kansas and Iowa Of the West. In
1850 the farming industry OF Maine owned
) ,s4S horses, an increase of % per cent.
over 1870, and i3,oi9 working oxen. 1t,
dairy interest vas represented b, $50. .si5
mulch cows, per cent. increase over 1870.
There was also credited to her liO. .j21 9th
er cattle. The number Of sheep on our
farms Was j6j.yls. 80 per cent more than
IN 1870. The number Of SWINE ~. "A.
36s, an increase Of 63 per cent. over 1870.
The value Of Name farm products, lnclud.
ing stock, IN 1859 va. SJ}.i70,Oi+; II,
1879, S3s 500 900, an increase of over IA
per cent.
The grand total shows Maine to be one
OF the leading agricultural States in the
Union. These facts. which might be e1-
tended. should induce immigration 10 our
state and Keep our young men AT home
ne maJori', OF the male population Of this
State, and even Of the nation, are husband
men and directly Interested IN agriculture.
more than half the Wealth Of the country
being invested in that industry. The pio-
neer who uses the axe and the spade. holds
the plough and guides IT through the soil of
Maine, best knows how stubborn IL i. In
-
when conquered. the result secures a good
livelihood, an honorable citizenship. and an
independent home. The Swedish irnmi-
grant and other settlers deserve the hearty
good will and encouragement Of III. State.
and he who follow, the pioneer and. by
science and kill, makes two blades OF
grass grow where but one grew before" i, a
public benefactor. Both are entitled to the
protection Of wise and generous laws. /
desire to emphasize the fact that the culti-
'ated helds are the prime source of nation
al prosperity, wealth and happiness. There
Is, consequently, no class OF our fellow c,t-
iens. that has higher claim. on our consid-
Grafton than the uller Of the soil
The demands Of our agricultursts have
been very few, and their petitions for leyis
lation easily satisfied. Heretofore there ha.
been little within the scope OF Legislative
action that could specially promote the in
terests Of agriculture but as it has become
science, its claims have increased, and
more should now be done. Our National
Government has wisely instituted and sup
ports a Bureau Of Agriculture, and il has
donated lands for agricultural colleges.
There are several plans before Congress
calculated to enlarge the duties Of the Com
missioner Of Agriculture, and to make him
cabinet officer, which may result in Great
ing National Department with several ex-
perimental. we'll distributed agricultural sta
tions. This will give the Department Of
Agriculture broad and dignifed national
character. Let Us be true to the interest
that feeds and clothes US, gives life. motion
and business to the commercial world for
its Importance over-shadows all other in
terests. MAY We not introduce as one of
the purposes Of the agricultural department
OF the State College, a plan whereby there
shall be closer and more advantageous
connection between the college and the farm
er The people desire to know what is ac-
comp!ished BY way Of experiment. That
agriculturist is far behind the car of pro-
SfesS, "uo uds no OeiitI OF commence In eX
perimental agriculture. Private enterprise
is supporting agricultural experimental
stations with signal success, and few
States are doing the same. As the result,
pure seeds and unaduterated fertilizers are
sold and distributed, silos and ensiaae bet
ter understood, the interest in raising the
best farm stock Of all kinds Is increased. the
treatment Of diseases Of animals made a
subject Of investigation, information OBJ
tanned in regard TO the prevention of the
rsvages Of insects, soils are anayzed to as
certain what elements need to be supplied,
experiments are made as to the best mode
Of cutivating the staple products Of our
State. All these form the basis of scientific
agriculture. The Republic of France ap-
propriates $40 ,534, ,4lO for agricultural pur-
poses Prussia. s2,6l2, $40; Russia, SI4,-
S26, lS4 and even Sweden, with an area
not larger than the State of California,
e65l, 1877. The United States only ap
propriates STA ,6S6 to foster the productive
interests Of the entire country.
! would suggest that arrangements be
made so that the farm Of the State College,
under the direction Of the Professor of
.nA