The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-08-11

Another reason that might be assigned for
refraining from agricultural pursuits in
Maine IS that the agitator of the soil finds
when it is too late that soil itself, which is
essential to the propagation of crops has
not been in use In Maine for years While
all over the state there is magnificent
stone foundation on which a farm might
safely rest, the superstructure, or farm
proper, has rot been secured.
If ] had. known when l passed through
Minnesota and Illinois what a soil famine
there was in Maine / would have brought
some with me.
The stone crop this year in Maine Will be
very great. If they do not crack open dur
ing the dry weather there will be great
many. The stone bruise is also looking I'M
usually wellfor this season of the year. and
chillblains were in full bloom when [ was
there
In the neighborhood of Pittsfield the couG-
try seems to run largely to cod water and
chattel mortgages. Some think that rum
has always kept Maine back, but 1 claim
that it has been wet feet. In another Sab
bath morning talk viii refer to the matter
Of rum IN Maine more fully.
The agricultural resources Of Pittsfeld
and vicinity are great, the principal exports
being spruce gum and Christmas trees
They were not yet IN bloom when l visited
the state, SO it was too early to gather pop
corn 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
rivetted, with German silver monogram on
top, if fitted out with Yale time lock, make
the best fire and burglar-proof yyormless
pies of commerce. They take the place Of
civil war and as promoter of intestine
strife they have no equal
The farms in Maine are fenced In with
stone walls. do not know why this is done
for 1 did not see anything on these farms
that any one would naturally yeaTn to carry
away with him.
I saw some sheep in one of these enclos-
ures. Their steel-pointed bills were living
on the wall near them, and they were rest
ing their jaws IN the crisp frosty morning
air. In another enclosure a farmer was
planting clover see1 with a hypodermic
syringe, and covering it with 8 mustard
plaster He said that last year his clover
was complete failure because his mustard
plasters were 10 good. He had tried TO save
money by using second hand mustard plas-
tiers. and of course the clover seed, missing
the warm stimulus, neglected to rally,
and the crop was q failure
Here may be noticed the canvas back
moose and a strong autipathy to good rum.
/ co not wonder IRaC Cae people OF Maine
sre hostile TO ruTn--if the ju dye all rum by
Maine rum The moose is one of thu most
ga1ney Of the finn tribe He is caught in
the fall of the year with a doubIe-harfel
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 Ter nest. The masculine moose
wears a hare lip and hat rack on his head
Near Pea Cove I saw strange s.ght
farmer was rowing aroun over his Gran
berry orchard in a skiff. / stood up on the
stone wall ara watched him for some time
because am greatly interested in farming
and dearly love to watch any one else who
may be engaged in manual labor 1t was a
long time before l could make out what he
was doing. At last, however, 1 figured it
out. and was very much surprised, indeed,
for had never seen horticulture carried to
that extent, and as Mr.. Sayward would re-
mark, 81 thought he was carrying that
thing too far"
Many viii doubt my word, and 1 would
not have believed 1T myself if any one else
had told me, but the man was actually pick
ing cranberries out CT his submer sed orch
ard with a stomach pump / have one Of
the crahberries at home now.