Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-08
AROOST0OK- mo. SO.
A Review Of the Agriculture Of
the County.
Good Farming Methods -Dairyins, Stock,
Husbandfy
And Other Resources Of Ifoostook.
More TransportationF Facilities Needed.
And Other Resources Of IfoostOOk.
More transportation Facilitiss Needed.

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More Transportation Facilities Needed
BY Hon. Edward vyiggln.
In our article Of last week we spoke of
the potato crop as the leading agricultural
product in those portions Of AroOstook
county within reach of the railroad stations
and of the vast dimensions to which this
industry has grown during the past twenty
years. We have seen how the building of
short spurs of railways to few border
towns has made this business possible in
the sections thus provided with Transports
ton to outside markets, and that it has re-
suited in bridging to the county a large
amount of money each year for this crop
alone. As proof of the abundant fer,il-
ity of Aroostook soil we have seen that the
aggregate product has largely increased
from year to year and that the average
J ieid per acre ia greater for the present
year than ever before since the cultivation
of this crop on q large scale was COM
menced. II must not be thought however
that the potato is the only crop now raised
in Aroostook. Though that 10 made the
special crop in the towns near the
railroad aud the one upon which
our farmers chiefly rely for cash
income, yet the production Of hay and
grain has largely increased since the intro
duction of the potato industry.
Clearing an ArO0st ook Farm.
We have shown that previous to the
building of the starch factories the agri
culture of Aroostook was carried on with
very little system and had not yet settled
down upon business basis. Each farmer
was getting living in his own way
as best he could with very little
concert of action or community of
interest. On every farm upoa which clear
ings of any considerable size had been
made were large tracts of rough land, par
TALLY covered with stumps and logs and
used only for pasturing. As soon as it
became evident that the culture of potatoes
wa, a profitable industry, larger areas were
required on such farms for the increased
number Of acres desired for this crop. As
consequence these large tracts of partially
cleared land were brought into requisition.
The stumps were pulled ont, piled together
and burned, the remains of old log heaps
we're also moved from the places where
they bad long remained imbedded in the soil
and were added TO the general coufagration.
Surface stones were removed and the land
when piowed produced abundant crops of
potatoes without the application of fefti-
lizers of any kind. The cultivation of the
potato crop smoothed the land to consider
able extent and when replowed and
thoroughly narrowed i. was 10 fire condi
ton to produce good crop Of grain and,
being seeded to clover and grass with the
fret grain crop, became the next year a
smooth and handsome hsy field. There is
this peculiarly of Aroostook soil which is
noticed with surprise by those who have
had no experience in its cultivation. Being
comparatively free from large powders and
outcropping lodges, the toughest tracts upon
the farm are easily brought under cultivs-
ton when once the surface distractions are
removed. Many
Unsightly old "Mortgsges''
upon which the stumps, black logs and
bushes occupied a larger portion of the
land and which therefore afforded but
scanty pssturage, have thus been reclaimed,
and in three years time have given place to
smoo h meadows, fitted for the moving
machine and horse rake, and during each
y q
BILE crop. In this way the area under cul-
tiva,ion has been largely extended and while
the aggregate production of potatoes has
increased from year to year. the production
Of larger crops Of hay and grain has also
been made possible. Indeed we find as a
general rule that the farms upon which the
largest fields of potatoes have been cult
valed are producing the greatest quantity
of hay and grain and are USUALLY carrying
tie largest amount of stock. 1t must not
be thought that because the soil Of Aroos-
took is exceptionally fertile it is capable of
producing succession Of crops without
fertilization unless at the expense of its
original strength and richness. The heaviest
bank account when continually drawn upon
without corresponding deposits will in time
become exhausted and further drafts will
be dishonored. The fact that the largely
increased production of potatoes in Aroos-
took has been accompanied by an increase
in the average yield per acre and
also by very marked increase
in the amount of hay and grain
produced not Only sttes,s the natural fert,l-
ity of the soil but also shows that an iptelli-
gent system of cultivation has thus far been
pursued .ince partial facilities for rsnspor-
ration have made anything like system pos
sible. The methods By which these satis-
factory results have been obtained 18th no
apparent exhaustion of the soil have been
rotation of crops and liberal application
of manure.
Methods Of gricuIture.
The general practise among our best far
msrs has been something like this. A
piece Of grass land is selected for the rext
years potato crop. and upon this the great
err part Of the manure from the bsrnyard is
hauled. The manner of applying the ms
nure varies with different farmers accord
ing to the character of the soil. the partic-
ular theory Of the owner, or the convenience
Of doing the work. The prsctise with many
is to commence hauling the manure imme-
diately after haying. spreading il upon the
swsrd from the cart and alloaing 1t to re-
main until the next spring before pioving
under, or plowing the ground in the fall 81
each msy prefer or may ird most conven-
lent. Oiher good farmers have psactised
Flowing 10 the fell and hauling the manure
in the winter, plliDg 1t in large heaps in the
field to be distributed and spread upon TIE
burrows in the spring and worked into the
ground with the harrow. One crop OF DO
tasoes Is taken OF and the next year the
field is sown to wheat. barley, oats or oats
and peas and seeded to clover ana
grass. II any rough pa.tnIe land il
available and i is desired to include
part OF this in the potato field it il cleared
up BY odd jobs during the summer asd fail
and planted TO potatoes witbou. manure
On some rough, nav piece. where the
''cfadie knolls' are so large and numerous
IS to interfere with easy cultivation, or
where large patches Of hazel bushes have
been allowed 10 grow, A first crop Of oats
and peas Is often sown an a potatoes planted
the following year. TO be succeeded 10 turn
BY grain and grass. some farmezs -hf,
have ob.si--a coed results ns-e made n
practise Of usiog ali ire manure from fh
barnyard as top dressing fer the grass
feids. tpseaaing l. a3on tie sssri afteel
cutting tue first crop snd usiss 20 manure
Hpen the got stoss- 9r fnany Aroostook
farms where the VI afey a,tns,iv h ~.Ii Al.