The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-21
BILL NYE In MAINE.

Prospect Of Very Large Stone Crop-PlanG
ing Glover Seed with Mustard Plasters.
Boston Globe.
The State of Maine is good place in which to
experiment with prohibition, but it is not good
place to farm it in very largely.
In the first place, the season is generally a
little reluctant. When / was up near Moose
head lake short time ago, people were driving
across that body of water on the ice with perfect
inpunity. That is one thing that interferes with.
the farming business in Maine If young man
is seigh-riding every night until midnight he
doesn't feel like hoeing the following day.
Any man who has ever had his feet frost-bitten
while bugging potatoes will agree with me that
1t takes away the charm OF pastoral pursuits. it
is this desire to amagamate dog days and Santa
Claus that has injured Maine as an agricultural
hot bed.
Another reason that might be assigned for
refraining from agricultural pursuits in Maine
is that the agtators of the soil find, when it is
too late. that the soil ITSELF which is essential to
the successful propagation of crops, has been in
usein Maine for years. While all over the State
there is a magnificent stone foundation on which
farm might safely rest, the superstructure, or
farm proper, has not been secured
1t had known when passed through Mime
sofa and Illinois whata soil famine there was in
Maine, should have brought some with me.
The stone crop this year in Maine will be very
great If they do not crack open during the
dry weather, there will be a great many. The
stone bruise is also looking unusually well for
this season of the year and chilbains were in
full bloom when was there.
In the neighborhood of Pittsfeld the country
seems to run largely to cold water and chattel
mortgages Some think that rum has always
kept Maine back but claim that it has been
wet feet. In another Sabbath morning talk
will refer to the matter of rum in Maine moro
fully.
The agricultural resources of Pittsfeld and
vicinity are not great, the principal exports be-
ing spruce gum and Christmas trees. Here also
the huckleberry hath her home But the country
seems to run largely to Christmas trees. They
were not yet in bloom when visited the State,
SO it was too early to gather popcorn balls and
Christmas presents.
Here, near Pittsfeld is the birthplace Of the
only original worthless dried apple pie with
which we generally insult our gastric economy
when we lunch along the railroad. These pies,
when properly kiln-dried and riveted, with Ger
man silver monogram on top, if fitted out with
Yale timelock, make the best fire and burglar
proof worthless pies of commerce They take
the place of civil war, and as promoter Of in
testine strife they have no equal.
The farms in Maine are fenced in with stone
walls. l do not know why this is done, for
did not see anything on these farms that any
one would naturally yearn to carry away with
him.
saw some sheep IN one of these Enclosures
Their steel pointed bills were lying on the wall
near them, and they were resting their jaws in
the crisp frosty morning air. In another inclos-
ure u FARMER was planning Clover SEED Win o
hypodermic syringe, and covering it with
mustard plaster He said that last year his
clover was complete failure because his mus
tard. plasters were no good He had tried to
save money by using secondhand mustard plas-
tiers, and, of course, the clover seed missing the
warm stimulus, neglected to rally and the crop
was failure
Here may be noticed the canvas back moose
and strong antipathy to good rum. / do not
wonder that the people of Maine are hostile to
rum-if they Judge all rum by Maine rum. The
moose is one of the most gamey of the inny tribe.
He is caught in the fall Of the year with double
barrel shotgun and pair of snow-shoes He
does not bite unless irritated, but little boys
should not go near the female moose while she is
on her nest The masculine moose wears hare
lip and q hat-rack on his head, to which is
attached placard, on which Is printed;