Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-01-10
THE NEW ENGLAND OF TO-DAY.
General Features Soil, Climate and Pro-
duCtiOns.

ductiOns.
Byd WIsoliHg LAZY.
Though there will be found a great de
gree of similarity of customs among the
people Of the various States encompassec
ia the Territory known So New England
there is q marked and surprising difference
in the character and productions OF the
soil.
AS for the States Maine. New Hamp
shire ana Vermont, it could trulhtully be
said they we're wrested from the grip OF
forest and rock, and after all these year:
of cultivation are not now, in an agricul
taral sense, worth the time expended.
TIE indented shore OF Maine is not only
stern end rock bound but 20 is the in
terror. II would seem that the foundation
Of the STATE was solid rock.
4 belt above the coast and the land
lying in the three narrow valley, is in q
good state OF cultivation, bl. toward the
interior the land rises to a great elevation
aud hills aud rocks abound.
1t ia a strange sight to people natives OF
the West, or OF this State, where all are
familiar w,Ih mountain scenery, blt who
use Tor agriculture ouly the low, smooth,
and fertile grounds, to look over the
farms OF the Northern New England
States.
The average farm Of the average farmer
who owns his land and home buildings,
will be seen to comprise first OF oil o wood
lot, the interior farmer never saw a scut.
tie of coal), pasture laad, an orchard, from
two to halt o dozen fields which are used
for crops.
The cause fer so much inter.division Of
farms would be hard for the owner TO ex.
plain unless il were that his father did so.
The only idea | ever had Was that they
knew not VIVA. el3a to do with uHcompro.
missing masses Of rocks Of various sizes
At all events ,het is the purpose to which
they are placed. The farmers land is
divided from his neighbor by stone walls,
and is sub.dlyIced by stone walls, and al
points about the place the solid ledge pro-
trudcs above the soil and its top or base is
also piled with small stones.
The farmer takes a yoke of rxen al
tached to . dray, and armed with q crow.
bar with which to pry up The larger rocks,
he commences TO clear a spot for O sprirg
crop Some preparation has to be made
By he thrifty farmer in the fall as the
spring is so backward and he summer so
short hat otherwise bis corn and potatoes
would have 20 stand their chance of being
caught bY the early fall rains and lrosts.
The orchards produce the most lucrative
crop grown, and many tarmcrs cultivate
the soil only enough for the living Of their
families and devote their time and inter.
esg 10 apple growing. The rocky soil and
abrupt hIll-ides are the native element Of
the apple tree, aud hardy varieties flourish.
The Baldwin is the king of apples there.
Nodhssds. the Golden Rusaet and GreeniDg
are the standby, Though small orchard
ists raising for their ogu use Hdop' fancy
varieties. Thousands OF barrels Of apples
are shipped annually from Northern New
EngIand to Europe.
The climate is rigorous, but the methods
Of preparing 10 me-. the long and severe
winters greatly reduces the hardship The
farmer who owns a few acres OF rock ribbed
land has a snug and comfortable house,
barn and outbliliiDgs. Not that he is
. NthlltlF, DuA DEtAlAF MS lHu WIS "
and not long ago d'her-covered with q
growth of heHyY timber, and all that could
be utilized in that way stands an lmpene-
trabie wall a~gain;; the cold.
Occasionally you see a barn q little dis
tance from the houee. but that is no: the
rule. Generally the house faces the south
a long ell, the latter portion Of which is
used for e w~oolhouse, connects the house
with the barn. The ground floor OF the
barn is used Tor cattle and horses, with q
corner reserved for hens. and the basement
or connected structure for swine. The up.
per part Of the barn is flied with bay, and
straw is kept for bedding for the creatures
These convenience make it possible for
tina farm aud household work to 70 on
without any unnecessary exposure to the
weather.
The farmers wood pile is his only source
Of employment besides attending to the
stock. In the fall ~largetrees are felled and
reduced to a siz3 capable of being handled
and are then left in q pile in the woods to
await the coming Of snow, as the wood is
more easily transported by sled than
wheels.
Hay and grain are stored in the barn.
The vegetables to last through till the next
crop comes are slowed in the cellar. The
house s supposed to be commodious enough
for the family, the cellar is supposed to be
c~cmnodious enough for the house. 1t is
frost proof, aud iuio It's depth, 90 potatoes,
%turnips. onions, beets. carrots and apples.
Yes, and @ barrel OF cider, that sparkles in
the freight on the family table on the long
winter evenings.
Stoyns are plenty but nearly every house
has an open fireplace in which clean hard
wood ia burned. As a result OF using
wood alone as fuel the atmosphere is bright
and clear, the house and windows tree
from smoke and duat, and it is easy to
keep the linen white, and personal clean
liness is "a characteristic Of the people.
The northern housewife or servant knows
absolutely nothing of the daily struggle
necessary against SCOT and smoke Of q bit.
luminous COIL region.
Maine was once quite noted for it's lum.
Der which cat in the interior and north.
ern par, Of the S'a'e wag easily trans
ported to the coast by river, where u pOr.
ton was used IN ship building aud the re.
mainder exported. Much Of the best tim.
Der jeasily accessible has been already
felled, though u less interest in lumber at
pre- sens is more accountable to the fact
that large owners Of lumber lands are hold.
ing the produce back till less competition
or q greater demand makes i. more yaiu.
obj.
A great deal OF the inferior spruce ard
poplar is absorbed By the large pulp and
paper uills, principally located On the
Saco, Androscoggin and Kennebec rivers.
The largest pulp mill in the United States
is,lccated at Saccurappa on the Saco
river, and owned by New York capitalists,
in which Jnitad States Sanstor Miller, OF
New York, is said to be the principal
owner. In another article | will endesvor
to coll0rethe number Of tons Of paper and
pulp manufactured last year By the above
corCcrns.
1t may sound large TO the casual reader,
but more than one millions tons Of ICE are
yearly harvested from the kenrebsc river
aloue, principally t8ken out between Bruns'
wick and WatervriIe, aud marketed IN