Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-01-09

!. auctions of the farm, Maine is ahead
{ Vermont and Rhode Island of the East
and leaves behind her the great aericul
tural States Of Indiana, Illinois, Wiscon
sin, Kansas and Iowa Of the West. L
. 1880 the farming industry Of Main
, owned S7,S48 horses, an increase OF 2
per cent. over 1870, and 43,049 workin
oxen. Its dairy interest was represente
by l50,S45 mich cows, 8 per cent. In
crease over 1870. There was also cred
tied to her l40, 527 other cattle. Tn
( number Of sheep on our farms was sos,
9ls, 80 per cent more than in 1917
The number of swine was 1869, an In
crease of 63 per cent. over 1870. Tn
value of Maine farm products, includini
stock, in 1869 was S33,470,044; i
1879, sSs, 500, 900, an increase of owe
ii per cent. =.
The grand total shows Maine to b
one of the leading agricultural States IL
the Union. These facts, which nigh
be extended, should induce immigration
to our State and keep our young men a
home. The majority Of the male poPu
la,ion of this State, and even Of the ma
ton, are husbandmen and directly inter
ested in agriculture, more than half tn
wealth of the country being invested II
that industry. The pioneer who uses
the axe and the spade, holds the plough
and guides it through the soil Of Maine
best know. how stubborn it is in yield
ing to the dominion Of labor but wher
conquered, the result secures good live
lihood, an honorable citizenship. and an
independent home. The Swedish i'm
migrant and other settlers deserve thu
hearty good will and encouragement o.
the State, and he who follows the plo'
neer and, by science and skill. "mske'
two blades Of grass grow where but ont
grew BEFORE" is benefactor. Both ar
entitled to the protection OF wise and gen
erous laws. desire to emphasize thu
fact that the cultivated fields are the
prime source of national prosperity
wealth and happiness. There Is, con'e'
quently, no class of our fellow citizens
that has higher claims on our considera'
ton than the tiller of the soil.
The demands Of our agriculturists have
been very few, and their petitions for
legislation easily satisfied. Heretofore
there has been little within the scope Of
legislative action tina. could specially pro-
mote the interests Of agriculture bat as
it has become a science, its claims have
increased, and more should now be done
Our National Government has wisely IN
stitu,ed and supports Bureau Of Agn-
culture, and it has donated lands for ag'
ricultural colleges. There are several
plans before Congress calculated to en-
large the duties of the Commissioner Of
Agriculture, aud to make him Cabinet
Officer, which may result in creating
National Department with several exper.
mental, well distributed agricultural
stations. This will give the Department
of Agriculture broad and dignifed ma
tional character. Let US be true to the
interest that feeds and clothes US. gives
life, motion and business TO the CONNER
cial world, for its importance overshadow'
all other interests. May we not intro
duce as one of the purposes of the agrl-
cultural department Of the State College
plan whereby there shall be close'
and more advantageous connection be-
tween the college and the farmer Th'
people desire to know what is accom-
plished by way Of experiment. Tha
agriculturist is far behind the car Of pro
gress, who has no belief or confidence il
experimental agriculture. Private enter
prise is supporting agricultural expert
mental stations with signal success. an'
a few States are doing the same. As th'
result, pure seeds and unadulterated fer
tilizers are sold and distributed, silos and
ensilage better understood, the interes
in raising the best farm stock Of all kind:
is increased, the treatment OF diseases o
animals made subject of investigation
information obtained in regard to tn
prevention of the ravsges of insects, sol!
are analysed to the best mode OF cult
waiting the staple products of our State
All these form the basis Of scientific az
ricul,ure. The Republic of France ap
propria,es $40, 534,4l0 for agriculture
pur poses Prussia, S2,6l2, $40; Russia
Sl4,S26,lS4 and even Sweden, wit
an area not larger than the State Of Cal
ifornia, 1851, 1877. The United State
only appropriates sl74,6S6 to foster tn
: productive interests of the entire country
would suggest that arrangements b
made so that the farm Of the State Col
leee, under the direction Of the Profe:
e sor of Agriculture and Chemistry, b
i used, as far as practicable, for the upbulld
) ing and protecting Of the agriculture
. interests OF the State, as an experiment.
: station, and | would recommend NOR
general diffusion Of experimental know
: edge through the medium Of circular
: and bulletins, and, if necessary, that az
0 prop,ia,ions be made for that purpose.
. COMMERCE.
1t isa gratifying fact that ship build
: inc has been revived in Maine, and th'
= the enterprise and ability of the shiI
. builders of our state are commandin
nearly the entire business Of the counts
6 in building wooden vessels. But Oh
. ship has been built outside of Maine du
ing the past year on the entire Atlant
= coast. Their ship yards furnish ov'
! two. thirds of the ship tonnage Of Il
;. State and nation. Important question
+ affecting ship building and ship owne