The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-09-17
PREsouE ISLE, Me. Sep. IA, 1881

About two hundred people from various
parts of Maine, with an occasional visitor
nom another Stale, took advantage OF the
excursion rates offered by the Maine Cen
trail and New Brunswick railroads to visit
the celebrated county of Aroostook, known
as "the garden of Maine" Our train left
Bangor at an early hour Sept. 9th, bound
for Pressure Isle and intermediate stations.
From Bangor to Mattawamkeag the train
runs along the Penobscot river, in many
places quite close to its banks, affording a
nne view of this noble stream and the mills
on its shores. A large quantity of logs
could be seen at various points along the
river, though an unusually rainy spring kept
the water In the rivers so high that most of
the logs are already at the mills and to a
large extent manufactured.
After leaving Mattawamkeag the railroad
extends through an uninviting region COM
posed OF forests of hard wood, waste lands
and swamps. As one looks at these miles
of almost unbroken forests he loses all anx-
iety in regard to a scarcity of wood. At
Vanceboro stop is made for dinner; after
which we again board the train, and are
soon again on British soil, though nothing
In the natural appearance of things would
indicate the transition. But when, at the
first stopping place, the sign, Liquors and
Groceries, is seen over the door of small
shop, we are morally sure that the good old
State of Maine Is left. At Woodstock
the railroad enters the valley of the
st. John river, and the tide from
here to Andover, fifty miles above, is
one of unusual beauty. From Andover a
branch road extends along the Aroostook
river to Presque Isle. The latter place is
distant two hundred and fifty miles by rail
from Bangor, and one hundred and fifty
miles in straight line. A railroad from
Mattawamkeag through Houlton, to Presque
the extra one hundred miles with its incon-
venience and expense, and would obtain
nearly all OF the transportation to and from
this growing country. Such road will
be built before many years.
By some strange fatality the weather, ac-
cording to local accounts, is always unfayor-
able for excursionists who wish to see the
country; and no exception was made In IA
vor of the present excursion. Despite the
rain and cold, however, was determined
to drive out among the famous farms of
Pressure Isle; and was particularly fortu-
nate in having for companion on this ride
the veteran newspaper publisher of north
ern Aroostook, Daniel Stickney, ESQ.,, who
probably possesses as large fund of infor-
nation concerning Aroostook county as any
man In the State. The first number of Mr..
Stickneys paper, The Sunrise, was printed
in Bangor, from which place he carried it to
Pressure Isle, together with printing press,
type andsother belongings of country news
paper office, with one-horse team. Mr..
Stickney thinks his paper fairly won the
title OF a one-horse paper. 1t afterwards
proved steed of considerable mettle.
The farming country about Presque Isle
and Caribou is as good as can be found in
the county, and contains some Of the finest
farms in the State. The land is diversified
with gently sloping hills and intervale, while
every farm has its wood lot more or less ex-
tensive. The soil is rich and remarkably
easy to work. That the land is not rocky
is evident from the entire absence of stone
walls, so common in the southern part of
the State; but nearly all the farms are en-
closed by neat rail fences. There is great
diversity in farm buildings, and it is not at
all uncommon to see farm adorned with
from one to three large, well-painted barns,
while its owner lives in log hut. A good
barn is apparently the first requirement of
an Aroostook farm. If more attention were
given to building comfortable, roomy dwell
ing houses, the rayages of diphtheria and
typhoid fever would be greatly lessened
AS 1t is, these diseases are accepted as natu-
raj to new country; when really it is the
manner of living more than ANYTHING else
that is at fault Many of the farms however
have fine residences as well as out-buildings,
and there are many beautiful country homes
in Aroostook county.
Several of the best farms In Pressure Isle
and vicinity were visited, and the large
barns were found bursting full with hay and
grain, every available foot of space being
occupied, while there was still grain in the
fields to be harvested. The hay crop in
AHoostook county this year has been enor-
nous, some of the farms cutting upwards
OF two hundred tons. OF grain there has
been about an average crop. The principal
grain crop is oats, of which immense GUAM
titles are raised. Large fields of fine-look-
ing wheat are occasionally seen, though it is
said that the country is not especially
adapted to the production of this grain
Large quantities of buckwheat are produced
every year, and nearly every farm has suffic-
lent at least for home consumption. 1t is
much used for food, and for fattening hogs
is considered the best substitute for corn
The seasons here are generally too short for
corn to ripen, and but very little is planted
Next to hay, the most important agricul-
tural product of the county is potatoes.
While the yield per acre is this year below
the average, owing to. the rust, which has
caused considerable damage, the whole av-
nj Will ha .Ixy as,,to
count of the increased acreage Every farm
in Aroostook has its field of potatoes; and
he is considered rather small farmer who
has less than five acres devoted to this crop
which fields of thirty acres or more are not
uncommon. a large portion of this crop is
sold to the starch factories at a contract
price Of twenty-five cents per bushel Some
of the farmers prefer to keep their potatoes
for the food market, which. though not so
sure as the factories, Is often more remuner-
alive; but lack of safe storage room compes
most farmers to sell their potatoes directly
from the field. Aroostook county produces
about one-fourth of the potato crop of
Maine. The harvesting of this crop has
just begun, and the starch factories general
ly have commenced operations this week.
The cultivation Of hops is becominga very
important industry of this county The
hops are now being picked, and large crews
of women and children may be seen at work
in the fields. A fine crop Of hops was raised
last year and sold at round price, many of
the fields paying their owners from one to
two thousand dollars. This success has in
fuenced others to begin the cultivation of
hops, and many new fields have been plant
ed which will begin to bear next year, two
seasons being required for the plant to ma
ture. Appraisers do not care to depend up
on hops alone as they are considered yerv
uncertain crop, falling entirely some sea-
sons, and other seasons bringing less In the
market than the cost of production, The
ultra-temperance people of the county have
begun war through the columns of the To-
cal papers upon hop-growing, on the ground
that it increases intemperance by furnishing
material for the manufacture of beer. The
only effect of the discussion will probably
be to advertise the profits Of the industry
and thus increase the cultivation of hops.
The short summers and long, cold winters
of northern Aroostook are unfavorable to
fruit growing, and the large orchards SO IA
miliar in the farming regions of southern
Maine are here almost entirely wanting Oc-
casionally, however, an orchard Of fine
young apple trees is seen, which good care
and favorable location have preserved. Ia
the cultivation of bees and the production of
honey Aroostook county is ahead of the rest
of the State. On a large portion Of the