Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-06-06
A PUBLIC FARM.
TIE WORK DONE NJ LUxArIcs UNDER
SANE AND ABLE MANAGEMENT Is
PROFITABLE.

II WAS my pleasure recently to pay q
visit TO the Danvers insane hospital and
INSPECT one Of the best farms In Essez
County.
DR.. Page, the efficient and genial
superintendent Of the hospital, is Ger
tainly an enthusiast In farming. On
every hand the grounds and barns show
the work Of an efficient and active head.
The land was originally covered with
b0ulders so thlckly that II was not even
adapted for pasture. From large por-
ton these stones have been removed,
being used to all road beds and drains
and the land 90 cleared yields abundant
crops. On the uncleared land part Of
the Inmates are at present at work haul
Ing or the stones. This land naturally
Of good quality has been literally treat
ed and large crops are the result. The
large amount Of sewage from the hos
pltal has been TO some extent used 10
enrich the land, but thus far with not
satisfactory results. Further expert
ments are being made this season, how
ever, which Il Il hoped viii prove more
practical solution Of this perplexing
question.
The farm account shows that the
crops the past season, were ~ follows :
100 tons hay, 335 tons ensllage, D tons
rye straw, SO tons mangolds, IL tons tur-
nips, 9 tons sQuashes, 800 dozen sweet
corn, 6s5 bushels parsnlps, S75 bushels
OF tine onions, 300 heads caulifower,
800 bushels turnlps, ll50 bushels rota-
toes, 1900 heads cabbage, ll3 bushels
peas, 30 bushels carrots, 80 bushels
beans, $50 bushels beets, 800 bushels
tomatoes, 3 tons rhubarb, 5000 bunches
celery, $50 barrels apples, besides 5000
worth small truck and l75 tons Of other
fodder for the stock.
The old barn has been entirely remod-
eled and two long wings built fitted for
the comfort Of over 100 head Of as fine
stock as one could wish to see. The
cows are mostly grade Holstelns, and
they certainly show that they apprecl-
ate the attention paid to them by the
result Of the pail. The % cows In milk
yield something over 200 quarts of milk
per day, an average OF nearly 8 quarts.
Everything II In thorough shape from
the system Of fastening the cows aud the
arrangements for watering, to that OF
the iron crate at the rear to allow the
manure to pass through, keeping the
cattle clean with the least possible
labor.
The swine house Il completely filled
with swine Of all ages from the three
day old litter up to the finished porker
ready for slaughter. Last year over
I,6OO pounds Of pork was produced on
the place, grown almost entirely on the
waste from the hospital.
A new building nearly completed
G0xl00 feet, to be used for the swine, is
probably the best arranged hog house In
Massachusetts,.
The total value Of all crops aud barn
products for the year amounting to
over S2l 900, all Of which Is disposed OF
on the place, must 90 long way toward
reducing the running expenses OF the
hospital.
Such progressive measures as are here
seen are valuable ss an object lesson to
the nelghborlng farmers. Some OF our
labor reform sgitators might learn wis.,
dom, for while they are restricting the
employment Of prison help In any trade,
e Is an unfair competition,
our farmers welcome the building up OF
u farm to help support the hospital, and
show none Of that selfish feeling
which would try to do away With the
farm, and compel the hospital to pur-
chase all their supplies from the neigh
boring farmers.-New England Farmer.