Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-01

Or. T. II, Hoskins of Newport, VI.
widely and fsvorstly known a, an sgri
cultural editor and writer, and as having
been for many years very careful exper-
menter with hardy fruit.. DR. Hoskils is
nztive of Gardiner in this State, and is
familiar with the agriculture of Maine.
A correspondent of his paper. the Yer
mon; Natchman, asked certain questions
Of DIR. Ho'kins in regard to our Aroostook
county, and in the Wa,chman of Jan. 20,
appears his answer given below. We repub-
lish it NOT only because II is the opinion
Of very we'll Informed gentleman. but be-
c,u-e It is interesting for our own people
to know how our Aroostook territory j. rs-
gar,lad by an outsider
"R II II Shoreham. Vt, wants US to
tell some thing more about the Aroostook
region as il g at present--,he soil, climate
etc. what kind of timber grows there
mostly, and any matters of interest 70 one
desiring TO locate there Well if you
should put the Champlsin valley 200 to 300
mies farther north. you would have some
thug very mech like Aroostook except that
the sandy pine plains of the Champlain
valley would be wanting. 'Aroostook' i.
the western and southwestern aide of the
valley Of the St Johns river Of New Bruins
wick A part of the way in its u per course
the river is in Maine; farther down il is for
some distance the line. and below that it
runs short Distance east of the line. This
~ unqnestionlbly the largest river valley
est of the ONO and north of the totomac,
and il j ffers from all the rivers of the
northeast in not being hemmed in By hills,
but exceeding in a rolling pain cut BY
tnbusry rivers. fifty miles or more in
width on each side. This land is underlaid.
mainly, with limestone, which very rarely
comes to the surface, and surface stone of
every sort IA so rare that cellars are mostly
" Il ID with cedar. The "soil" SCENE to
have no demarkaiion from the subsoil. as
en- so plainly elsewhere in New England.
but I ends own t. the bed rock Of ap
psreptly uniform character, in this being
somewhat like the prsiries. Though, of
course, not all exactly alike, this soil seems
TO be nearly all of a superior character.
especially for grass. grain and roots. and il
il good fruit country for all email fruits
AID for such tree fruits as endure the via
ters The difference in the wood grow Ii
seems to be more determined by the moist
nre than the quality of the soil. As re-
marked, the land lies IN long, low
waves. or rolls, somewhat at right an
giles with the couse of the main
river The tops of these roll, are geuer
ally (in their natural state) heavily for
ested with hard wood-msple. beech and
birch with a mixture of other tr-es-of a
remarkably fine growth. The slopes bear
4 mixure of hard wood and evergreen,
while the holloSs, with some other black
growth. are filled with certainly the hnest
cedar tar5or rttoel we hsve ever seen
The rolls of land are not high. the
roads going straight over them, and the
wales between are rather broad, and in their
natural state appear swampy; but when
clear d they make the finest meade - for
hay that We have ever seen, and many Of
5hem prove excellent for tillsse. especially
for p Jtatoes and roots. There are number
Of tow lship' on the man rod through
the country. north from Houlton TO
~ bou, in which there 10 no, foot Of I'M
tnsble land above water; while the waste
| md in the whole country is far less than in
the best parts of New England. In this |
rAspect, Pc, hsps. ifs only equal. away from
the prairi $. is TO be found in the far famed /
Gsnesee valley Of New York. Aroostook |
la a wond rful reputation for its potatoes
ohh Sc TO crop and quality but really il 10 !
co ALLY great in grass and all the email
& iis-cats and wheat especially. The /
vi Hers ar no longer o. more severe, than
il rorFbwestern Vermont; and access by i
rail which is nor by = single line. partly /
in New Bruaswick. will be 1t once greatly 1
improved By the extension Of the Maine I
Central line through the country"