Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-08-04
4 "a. Anoae the FARMERS.
as.es upsa he Road ia esfdiaer and west
Gxrdiaeg.

of the .tt,l gSsL man most utterly nHseFapie,
an in, hasion came from the JofE>aL', sue
! cessfsil agent Ar. Sumner Smiley Of Car
diner, to accompany him On trip among
| some of the farms Of West Gardiner and
neighboring towns. With an alacriis
which hadn't characterized the sork-
Nal mans actions for several days,
he sprans into the wagon and
with the big blue umbrella offering most
| welcome shade started on the pleasantest
trip of the summer.
| The route Of departure lay out over High
| street hill, long gradual ascent bringing
one out at the top of a ridge where an ex-
ceilent view of the city of Gardiner coali
be secured, \ few moments and the car
riage rolls by the well-kepr farm ami mol
ern farm buildings owned by Mr.. Robert
Pope of Gardiner. Ii is fine farm,
worthy of extended description, but the
JornSaL must away to farther fields and
have that for later and more thorough
witt.
4 half mile or so further on AMI we de-
scend into shallow valley where TO the left
are two handsome fields of wide acreage ami
self evidence of their unusual fertility
in the fresh green look which they wore
under the parchiag san. They are owned
By Tollman Malcolm and Alvin Brann, two
progressive farmers who realize that il PAYS
10 have the best in farming as in all other
occupations and are rapidly bring NJ their
farms up 10 Il fine state of cultivation.
Shortly after the West Gar liner line is
crossed We light the farm of VIM. II. VIII
Hams, f!nc estate with every rsi lenrc pt
thrift in the farm and buildings. y step or
two further along anl on the opposi;. i he
Of the road we drive up 10 sci of farm
bull lags for oGr irat stop. 1t is the farm
of Mr.. Geo. II. Pope, well known as
progressive, successful farmer. Mr..
Pope is just completing his having and with
his men i. bringing down the grass in his
hillside orchard.
As we are about to turn, fine mass of
butter on the working-board is seen through
the open door of the dairy room and We
step inside. Further away and near the
open window IA sturdy mastif treads the
mill AMI furnishes the motive power to
operate large swing churn which is just
commencing its work on the contents of
cream On the butter worker is batch of
rich looking yellow butter just being pre-
pared for Mr.. pope's city customers. lie
now utilzcs the milk from Ii cows. His
pleasant wife, who has charge of this
branch, informs us that the weekly churn
in"s will amount to between so and 40
pounds of fine butter, the superior quail
ity of which is attcsted by the fact that for
fourteen years some of his customers have
used the butter OH their tables, and they
are the wealthy tables of Gardiner, too.
Hunting up Mr.. Pope, he very kindly
talks With the Journal men. He is "A
typical Maine farmer, tall and well built,
with a keen eye and shrewd face which
accounts for the success that attends all
the business he undertakes. rs we walk
back toward The buildings Mr.. Pope tells
us that there arr % acres in his farm, and
With his brothers place across the way
which he manages, it cuts about 60 tons of
hay. This year, however. it will fall far
4hurt of bring an average yield. lie will
cut not more than third the Usual crop.
1t is scared III iue shape huweycr. Mr.
rupc's grain is looking unusually we'll.
For several wears Mr.. Pope has made
practice OF canning eurn fur the market;
commencing in Il small way he was com
pclled to increase his business, SO great was
the demand for the excellent brand of corn
which he put up. Last year 81 900 cans of
corn and several thousand cans of tomatoes,
pumpkins, squash AMI other vegetables
were put up. An increase will be made
tbs year and probably nearly 1000 cans
will bc put up of which about 10000 cans
will be filled it'll com. Mr.. Pope himself
raises 20 acre, of corn, fifteen acre, Of
V hlch are in one field. 1t was nagni'i
Z
field and looked each way to the edge of
the dark green, healthy mass of foliage.
lie raised several acres each year FOR and
which he selects from the best of each
years yield with great care, In addition
to what he raises himself he buys ;he yield
of at least thirty acres, using in all the corn
raised ON about 10 acres. Mr.. Pope tells
us that it will run from 200 to 400 cans
per acre, although it varies considerably.
He has canned as high as 1000 cans from
single acre. The work of canning com
menccs about the last of August or first of
September and continues about 10 days or
two weeks. The work is rushed as fast
possible, the cans being made during the
winter days when work on the farm is quiet.
The corn finds ready market near home.
For several years the firm of Twitcheli K
Champlin of Portland has had Atarly the
whole of the crop. They have booked
an order this year for 1900 cases, or 30
o0e cans. and will take as much more a- hp
can spare. 1t is regarded as Il superior
brand and is eagerly sought after by retailers
throughout New England.
Mr. Pope plants his seed and culivates
the crop with the most approved machines.
After planting and just a. the corn is com
mencing to put forth the first tiny shoots.
the entire field Is gone over twice with
Thomas smoothing harrow. Is II grows
4 eultiyator is run between the rows about
three times But little work by hand Is re-
quired. Mr.. Pope believes IN giving a ii6-
eral application of dressing, giving new
land 10 cords Of dressing and % pounds OF
superpho-phate to the acre, while gro"H
which bore corn the year previous receives
! Is cord. of dressing and 81
hounds of superphosrfate to tie acre. In
addition 10 this, ;;,o pounds of supcrplios-
Il I'LL