Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-04-18

Plant has survived the winter i q
most suspicious sign The winter
wheat belt embraces the Central. West
err. Pacific and Southwestern stafes-|
Texas, Kansas, Arhanaas, Missouri, Ten
nesses, Kentucky. Iowa, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Ohio, California, Oregon and wash
ington-whiie spring wheat b confined
to the narrower area Of the Dakosas,
Minnesota and wisconsin. The eondi'
| ton of the winter wheat Ia placed at
o. per cent. This Ia the highest
average Of any year since 1882. Last
year the average was Is per cent
lower. 1t Il also noted az most
favorable conjunction that while the
prospect now Ia for an abundant yield
Of wheat In the United States, Austria
Hungary, Russia, France and the other
wheat growing countries Of Europe are
certain TO experience severe shortage.
A big wheat crop at home and big for
eign demand at high prices would prove'|
great blessing 20 the agricultural and
general business interests Of the country.
What to DO with Abandoosd Farms.
We are tempted TO open up this ques-
ton again for the purpose Of transferring
| 70 our columez a most interesting and
serviceable article from the pen Of i
Maine correspondent Of the American
Agriculturisti merely saying by way OF
| INTRODUCTION, that the Farmers Review
Of Chicago, which lately discussed this
subject somewhat, takes most sensible
view Of the question. II says :;
"A great many Of these farms are
billy and rocky, and have not proved
profitable enough TO their owners to
induce them 10 remain upon them.
Some have sold them for what they
could get TO their neighbors, to be
farmed or pastured in connection with
| their own farms. Some have rented
then or leased them On shares Ger
| talnly such farms cannot be said to De
abandoned. All photographers agree IN
l tHbtbZ W ~ 'O'SN'NN
entirely; to give up all claim to- Aban-
| doned farms would thus revert TO the
| government, and would become legally
| open TO the homesteader. Such a eondi-
lion Of affairs does not, however, exist
In New England. These farms are still
held by their original owners. but many
of them can be purchased at moderate
price, and ought to find many purehas
ers Now comes the interesting article
from Mr.. Reynolds of Androseoggin
county. who, after speaking Of the large
numbers who have gone from the old
farms Of Maine, says:
| Have these people bettered them
selves by leaving the farm: A few per-
hapa have, the many probably have not.
| II would have been better for them to
have remained on their farms. Most Of
these abandoned farms are well adapted
TO fruit raising. especially apples. Most
of them have more or less orchardiDg on
them, with many scattering trees which
have come up spontaneously, and which,
il grated and cared for, would 10 Il
few years prove source of income.
| With what trees there are al
| ready on these farms, and what might be
| planted each year without q great ex-
| pcnse, nearly every one of them could
be rendered profitable in few years, so
that fruit raising, dairying and sheep
| raising would afford q sufficient income
TO support the family. What has already
been done shows what can be done. A
farmer in Winthrop, Maine had rocky
farm which was not regarded as Of much
value, but he did not abandon it. He
noticed that Koxbury Russets in that
neighborhood did exceptionally well
and were of excellent quality. He thought
II might be good Investment to set out
that kind Of apple tree extensively. SO he
commenced, setting acre after acre. Now
he has the most profitable farm in that
part of the town, selling some years
81 600 worth of apples. Another farmer
in Chesterville had rocky farm that
was so nearly worthless that his neigh
hors, wars ago, advised him to leave it.
But he thought he could see his way
clear by planting apple trees, and he
has continued to plant, and is still plant
ing trees, although he is selling $1,000 or
5000 worth Of apples yearly, with hosts
Of young trees yet coming into bear
ing. So careful has he been in sorting
and packing his apples for the market
that hs has acquired reputation for his
fruit, and sells it at about third higher
price than his neighbors. If. instead
of abandoning these hill farms filled
with rocks, the owners would turn
them to the use to which they are
adopted, they would soon place them
selves in prosperous way and
obtain better living than they can in
the shops and mills, and not have to
work so hard for it."