Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-01-07


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 a magnificent
stone foundation on which a farm might
safely rest, the superstructure, or farm
proper, has not 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 a great
many. The stone bruise is also looking un-
usually wellfor this season of the year, and
chillblains were in full bloom when was
there
In the Deighborhoo3 of Pittsfeld the coun
try seems to run largely TO cod water and
chattei mortgages. Some think that rum
has always kept Maine back. but | claim
that it has been wet feet. In another Sab
bath morning talk | Will refer to the matter
Of rum in Maine more fully.
The agricultural resources of Pittsfeld
and vicinity are great, tie principal exports
being spruce gum and Christmas trees
They were not yet In bloom when | visited
the state, 50 it was too early to gather pop
corn balls and Christmas presents.
Here, near Pittsfeld. is the birthplace of
the only original wormless dried apple pie
with which we generally insult our gastric
economy when we lunch along the railroad
These pies, when properly kiin-dried and
rivetted with German silver monogram on
top, if fitted out with Yale time lock, make
the best fire and burglar-proOf wormless
pies of commerce They take the place of
civil war, and as a promoter of intestine
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.
l saw some sheep in one of these enclos-
ures Their steel-pcinted bills were lying
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 hypodermic
syringe, and covering it with mustard
plaster. He said that last year his clover
was complete failure because his mustard
plasters were no good. He had tried to save
money by using secondhand mustard plas-
ters, 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 ju dge all rum by
Maine rum. The moose is one Of the most
gamey of the finny 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 bows
should not go near the female moose while
she is on her nest The masculine moose
wears hare lip and hat rack ON his head.
Near Pea Cove saw strange sight. A
farmer was rowing around over his Gran
berry orchard in skiff. / stood up on the
stone wall and 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
long time before l could make out what he
was doing. At last, however, l figured it
out, and l was very much surprised, indeed,
for had never seen horticulture carried to
that extent, and as Mr.. Sayward would re-
mark, II thought he was carrying that
thing too far"
Many will doubt my word, and 1 would
not have believed it myself if any one else
had told me, but the man was actually pick
ing cranberries out of his submerged orch
ard with stomach pump. l have one Of
the cranberries at home now.