Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-12-25
OXFORD FARMERS.
THE BETHEL MIDDLE INTERvALE FARMERS
CLUB REORGANiZE FOR THE WINTER
CAIPAIGN SWEET CoRN Discussed

i
CLUB REoRGANIZI FOR THE WINTER
CAMrAIGN SWEET CoRN Discussed
The Bethel Middle In'ervale Farmers
Club met Nov. S,h, and elected the fol-
lowing officers: President, d. VI. Kim
ball; Vice President, J. II Carter; Sec
rotary, Henry F4rwell; Committee on
topics, |. G.. Kimbalil, Vim. l. FsrSell
and s. W. Sanbcra |, was suggested
tina, members, in opening tn DISCUSSION,
prepare AMI read an essay on the subject.
The mex, meeting was held al the school
house Nov l3:h, when the utility of the
sweet corn crop was discussed. II. II.
Holt read an essay on the subject the
main points Of which give.
lie considered the raising Of sweet
corn highly detrimental to the farmers as
i; is carried to excess here, to the neg
Iect Of other crops more ben fetal 10 the
farmers that might prove a. profitable as
sweet corn If the same time all expense
were employed, for instance, fruit grow
ing. Take cranberri:s: there i hardly
farmer in this vicinity who has not an
excellent location for raising cranberries.
After once started they could be raised
with less trouble and at greater profit
than sweet corn yellow corn with the
same care and culture IS long way
ahead Of the saccharine maize 10 feed TO
cattle, hogs or horses ; or ground into
meal to be fed &C the same, or convertod
into bread and other edibles in the house,
hold, while swec: corn can only be eaten
while in the milk and after being canned.
From the time Of planting until harvest
you hear nothing from the farmers but
sweet corn. All other crops and inter-
es.s are swallowed up in sweet corn. |
think farmers will learn lesson in few
years more, and come home TO their yell
low corn, TO, with the pieces of money
as did Joseph's brethren, but with few
sour cobs and the dry husks rafting and
rusiling and as unsatisfed as was the
prodigal son.
j. T. Kimball thought sweet corn a
paying crop, bu, as the business had
been managed at the Bethel factory had
doubts about its being advisable for the
farmers to continue raising it. As a
crop it was as profitable as any we could
raise
I.G. Kimball said we have been rails
ing sweet corn for four years two years
everything went we'll at the factory, but
the other two we had trouble, which has
caused much feeling among the farmers,
but in reality this does not affect the real
value of the crop. He considered that
where we get our pay for what corn we
raise, i, pays much better than the aver
age Of any other crop. He could pur.
chase with his sweet corn much more
corn than he could raise if the same land
had been planted with yellow cora.
VIM. w. Chase thought farmers ought
to raise a good crop of yellow corn He
had as soon have a bushel of our yellow
corn ground with the cob, as to have a
bushel of most of the Western corn clear.
VIM. l.. Farwell said from observation
Of the farmers who had made speciality
of raising sweet corn, it paid them better
than our usual crop, but would not ad-
wise any farmer to devote his whole time
to the raising of it.
C. n. Kimbsll had not changel his
mind from what it had beea ever since
the factory started; that where we have
TO haul our corn distance of four or five
miles or more did not think it best to
plant extensively especially when both
cred at the factory as we were this year.
George Osgood said he had planted the
last corn for the factory that he ever
should.
d. NJ. Kimball thought that under ia.
vorable circumstances sweet corn would
pay as well as any crop
At the next meeting the credit system
for the farmer will have an airing.
HENRY FARwELL, Sec.