Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-11-09
A New Hampshire Farmer in Maine


One Of the workers whom Secretary
Gilbert has had at his Institutes this fall,
has been Mr.. J. l.. Gerrish, secretary Of
the New Hampshire DairymeDs
Association, who lectured TO much
acceptance at institutes in Kenne-
| bee, Penobseot and piscataqais coun'
ties. Mr.. Gerrish contributes to the
Concord IN. H. People and Patriot,
the first Of an interesting series of letters
concerning these institutes with notes on
Maine agriculture in general. We make
some extracts from these letters believ-
Ing they will be read with pleasure by
| Maine farmers
THE attendance at the farmers insti-
tutes in Maine" says Mr.. Gerrish,
ranged from Is to l75 persons, the
ladies attending 10 large numbers, and
wherever held in grange halls, the peo'
pie were beautifully fed.
This was pleasant trip 10 more ways
than one. Besides the pleasure of meet
ing intelligent and progressive farmers,
| we were pleased with the strength OF
the soil for grass, for the production OF
| which many farms are principally used,
the hay being pressed and sent TO mar
ket.
We also saw many hocks OF mutton
| sheep grazing in the pastures and on the
| shack OF the fields. These fields are
usually enclosed with fences mads of &c
dar wood, some of which are built Viz
GINA fashion and have been laid for 10
OF 30 years
These fences take considerable width
of land and are Objectionable on that ac
| count, but land is cheap in Maine AS well
as In our own state, and although we hear
| little of abandoned farms we understand
few farus change hands. There Is
another kind OF fence made OF cedar
which also seems very durable one.
Once in about rod, and crosswise the
| fence nj the bottom, is section of a
cedar log perhaps four feet long in which
are holes for the stakes instead of their
| being inserted in the ground. These
stakes are secured at the top, above the
| last rail with yoke of small cedar, not
quite as long as the bottom one. Be
tween the rails are placed small blocks
of satey rock to keep them sufficiently
apart from each other. This kind OF
fence is straight, while the Virginia
fence is llg-zag, as we suppose most
farmers understand. 1t seems to us
that there too many fences and small
fields. We suppose this is on account
of the practice of fall feeding
I'm many places stone walls are laid
and some are double and quite solid.
We are however, glad to see many of
the old walls along the roadside Icing or
having lnteiy been removed, and the
pillow now working nearly to the wheel
rut Maine people are quite well loaded
with young horses aud colts as far rs we
observed. and ordinary bred ones are
quite cheap. but there is much fine blood
here in the home OF knox and Nelson.
There seems to be much nice arabic
land in these countries. some of which is
under good state of cultivation, but we
should Judge much OF it would be great
lv improved by Undertaking if farmers
felt like making the Investment But
the came work and method OF invest
ment Of m )ney has gone on here as in
New Hampshire. Much OF the money
saved has gone West for investment and
we understand it is hard for young men
to obtain money on mortgage, with
which to make farm improvements We
have no doubt that the soil Is still richer
In Aroostook county. which we should
be glad to visit and examine