Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-22
Jour GARDEN COUNTY.
The SprlIg YellhsF n Eath'
an Aroostoek.
I Ride sesthylld 7lfelsl Tho Eastern
tn Of Towns.
vatae 81 the Potato Csep Fine PAINS.
Basy viIsgss. Signs ct Imprevsmsat
BIZ Hon. EpwArp w,se1y.


Of the year sfords view of 81 fne land
scspe and IS beautiful and prosperous sgri-
cultural sections - can, be fourd anywhere
in New England. Though the season up
TO this time has not been particularly favor
s5le for the rapid grov'h of vegs,ltion Jet
il has been unususlly so for the preparation
Of the soil sad the pu-.ing in Of crops.
Sincs the opening Of the spring and the
commencement Of fs'ming operations there
has been no cessation % work. no rain hsv-
ing come to interfere with labor in the
field, except for one day in May when .
welcome rain came to rejoice the hearts Of
the farmers and add to the prospect of 4
generous crop. Throughout May the
weather was somewhat cold but the soil " As
in most excellent condition and the ions
continued season Of fair weather enabled
the farmers to plant and SOW large bresdths
which were preps,sd for '',e seed in 9 most
thorough manner. The ass fields were
covered early in the winter with thick
mantle of snow, which coming before the
ground frozs to any great depth and remain
ing throughout: the winter Afforded . most
complete pfotee ion to the meadows and
grass neve, wintered better Coming through
the winter on such excellent conditions the
meadows and pastures were better enabled
TO Withstand the long drouth and there is
now . promise Of q good hay crop. On
Sunday last the
Northern Section OF this C0anty
had generous rain followed on Monday
and Tuesday by copious showers which
have given vegetation 8 rigorous start. In
the vicinity Of Houlton very little rain has
fallen daricg the spring but the meadows
are promising well and il rain comes soon
the growing crops will yield a bountiful
harvest. We started on Tuesday morning
last from Msysville Centre and drove to
Houlton. The fine shower of the night
before. followed by warm sunshine on
Tuesdsy morning made the fields and mead
ows 1ok most grateful and promising and
the broad stretches of cultivated crops on
every hand gave abundant assurance OF
continued and increased prosperity for the
farmers of this county. Although the acre
age Of potatoes was last year unusually
large, yet the high price obtained for lssi
years crop and the favorable spring encour-
aged QUE farmers to extend the ares and
this year we have the largest plant
Of potatoes ever known in the county.
Potato growing has been most pros
porous industry for Aroostook farmers,
especially so for the Iast few
years and the large amount of cash
received for this crop has enabled many
farmers to pay of all debts incurred in
their esrly struggles when clearing their
farms and erecting the necessary buildings,
and on many farms extensive improve
menis have been made which give evidence
Of prosperity.
The Potato Crop Of AroOstook.
As an Indication of the vslue of the po-
tato raising industry to Aroostook farmers
we may give some figures OF the amount
shipped from Fort Fairfield during the last
winter. Fort Fairfield lying upon the
border and being surrounded by :, splendid
agricultural region is the heaviest shipping
point for potatoes in Northern Aroos.ook.
This station not only receives all the
potatoes raised in the town, which is one
of the finest farming towns in the county,
but the farmers Of the eastern portion of
Presque Isle, of 3 large portion Of Lime
stone, Esston and Mars Hill also haul their
pot.,oes here ard sell to Folt Fairfield
shippers. Since the last harvest there
have been shipped from Fort Fairfield
203 $40 barrels Of potatoes for which the
farmers were paid an average Of 50 rs per
barrel, the highest price paid being s. 20.
The starch factories Of Fort Fairfield paid
$50, 900 for the amount of potatoes manu-
featured into starch which made the
total Of cash paid out in Fort Fairfield to
the farmers of that and the 3D. Dining towns
$3.50 900. Presqae Isle and Caribou also
shipped large quantities. and st Houlton
the large shipments of the towns south of
Weattield and Mars Hill centred. With q
favorable season the quantity of potatoes
raised in the county will much exceed that
of last year and should the price paid be
equal to that of last season large amount
of cash will and lite way to the pockets Of
Aroostook farmers. The profit derived
from potato culture has induced men not
otherwise engaged in agriculture 20 invest
in the industry upon land hired for the
purpose and one potato buyer has this year
paid 500 for the use of four aud half
acres of ground in the vicinity of Pressure
Isle. Whist is being done IN this business
in the comparatively small section provided
with railroad facilities might be done also
in many other sections of Aroostook, equally
fertile, but not yet having any outlet for the
E portation of surplus productions.
The present expectation Of potatoes from
Aroostook could be easily doubled were
facilities for shipping provided for those
sections nov lying at too great distance
from the railroad. The fact Of the possible
immediate increase Of freight awaiting the
opening of a direct line of railroad through
the fertile lands of Aronstook makes II
certain that money invested in the stock Of
the
Bangor and AroostOok Railroad
will prove profitable inv estment. The peo-