The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-09-15
Notes by the Way.

At the close of our last letter to the Jour
nal we We're speaking of Parlman and its
grand old hills. Resuming our text. as alsc
our Journey, we ride from Parllnan to the
twin towns of Cambridge and Ripley, thence
westerly to Harmony where the ha,n,onH of
busy farmers engaged in the fields over
looking the pretty ponds of Hartland, Har-
mony and ST. Adams, presented a very
pleasant picture.
These ponds nestled as they are between
high hills crowned with dense forests, and
dotted here and there with tiny sailboats-
the whole scene pictured and beautitied by
the golden rays of early twihght-forlned a
view that must impress the beholder with a
sense of its true beauty and grandeur.
From Harmony we drive through portion
of the tow of Hartland and Cornville to
the hustling town Of Skowhegan, passing a
night on the eastern bank of the Kennebec at
the pleasant home of Mr.. A. r Smiley
Here we found another whole-hearted pa
trun. as also a pleasant and we'll furnished
home Among the we'll arranged convent
tnces of this home was running water at the
sink. and we wondered how this could be, as
the hiliit)ing sat upon a rolling ridge of land
with no visible means of being 50 abundant
Il supplied with water On inquiring we
found the supply was obtained from a dis
tant hillside several hundred rods from the
house. brought hither by means of an aque-
duct that has beautifully performed it, duty
for a number of years.
Leaving the pleasant home of Nh Smiley
we call upon Warren Russell, of this town.
who has farm of 800 acres Very desirablv
located and under excellent cultivation
Mr., Russell. though somewhat advanced in
years, was hrslv engaged in the grain field,
where in brief interview he informed us
that he has this year harry vested 80 tons of hay,
has fifteen acres of grain and hoed crops,
and has done the labor himself with only oc-
casional help by the day.
Our next call was with Mr.. A. p. Turner,
of this town. another 300-acre farmer, and
Judging from surroundings, one of the hus-
thing. prosperous ones. Mr.. Turner is some
thing of sheep man, having a flock of about
800 head all coarse wool grades and good
ONES Alter l+dN my mere anu Calling az lllt
fine farm of Hiram Moore. We met Mr.. w.
T. French, the well-known wool buyer of this
place, and both readily subscribed for the
''-American Sheep Breeder" evidently APP
preciating a periodical published exclusive
~ in the interest of sheep hllSbandry.
Now we turn our course northward, stop
ping over night with Mr.. c. W. Goodrich.
Here one finds home so pleasant in its
surroundings and so complete i'll its general
makeup that our only regret is there are not
more such homes III the good State of Maine.
The family consists ot the aged parents, who
settled upon this place i'll the early part of
the present century, and their son, Mr.. {.
w. Goodrich, and his wife. The hard and
patient Labor of the father, followed by the
intelligent efforts of the son, have wrought
from the dense forests and stony soil most
excellent farm, with its smooth fields, fine
orchards and substantial and convenient
buildings. The orchard contains between
five and six hundred trees. nearly all of
bearing age. and in strong healthy, grow
ing condition. We deem it worthy of men
ton that no evidence of the canker worm OF
of the fall caterpillar was to be seen here,
though the ravageS of these pests are very
noticeable in most orchards The location
is one of the most desirable, we think, to be
found in Eastern Maine. 1t is situated on
an undulating ridge of fine farming land
overlooking pretty lake, bordered by high
hills and heavy forests, within easy distance
of Skowhegan and Madison Bridge-both
excellent markets for all farm products.
Just across the road is the well known
nursery and fruit farm of Messrs. Holbrook
& Son. Here one may learn much of in
terest and value pertaining to orchard and
fruit culture There are now growing upon
this place 1000 apple trees, $50 plum trees,
115 pear trees and 100 cherry trees, al, in
an excellent state of growth and thrift. Not
content with this already large and protita-
Bile orchard, an addition will be made an
other season of 100 apple trees, besides a
large number of pear, cherry and plum trees.
The Messrs. Holhrook have 1000 hills of
cranberry beans, estimated to yield 80 BUSH
els of pods, for which they receive 81 per
bushel. A thrifty strawberry field was also
iioUNNb W lii'I, WIN uilO Plol'poSu dtiiltloil,
will contain nearly acre and yield an
abundance of this delicious fruit. During
our pleasant call here We We're shown a
crab apple tree which is claimed to be the
only one known Of this particular variety.
The tree originated in this State
Returning to the quiet and rest of the
Goodrich home pleasant discussion was
enjoyed during the evening, in which our
genial hostess maintained that the power
and influence of woman is of more value to
the world than is the power and influence
of man. After considerable discussion our
fair opponent closed an able argument with
the pretty quotation from Goldsmith. "The
hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,
and no amount of quotation argument
from the travelling "Dip" agent could con
vince our antagonist that she was in error
Wednesday morning having arrived we
got an early start for Embden via Scion and
North Arson, and notwithstanding our liter
AIRY defeat of the previous evening it is with
j something of reluctance that we turn from
this pretty home, nor do we until after prom.
| Using that in future we will carefully avoid
argument with the fair sex, especially when
| they have the right side of the question