Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-08-10
TOGUS FARM WORK.
The Home Embraces 1900 Acres,
300 Under Cultivation.
Farming on Large Scale-Firsi Excursion oi
Keeley League No z.

LOCUS, Aug. J.-( opeclal. )-1ue totHl
acreage embraced in the United States pos
sessions here, used for the National Home
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. is not far
from 1900 acres. OF this fully 300 acres is
tillage land. and the remainder is pasturage
aud a light growth of wood, the pasturage
being amply sufficient for the stock kept
and of excellent quality. Three hundred
and fifty tons, actual weight, of hay was
cut this year, the most part of which was
put up into the barns in good order.
OF crops, this year, there are 80 acres of
oats now nearly all harvested, part of
which will be threshed and the remainder
used for fodder; 81 acres of fodder cord,
which is simply beautiful to look at. This
will all be put in one silo. There are over
200 cabbage plants, two acres of carrots,
two acres of beets, three acres of turpips,
two acres of bush beans, two acres of sweet
corn, nearly ready for the table, and 1000
hills of pole beans. No potatoes aIe
raj ed here.
The farm work is under the immediate
supervision of +. ID. Lynn of Augusta, who
has as his assistant James Libby, also Of
Augusta. Both are practical farmers and
the right men for the place.
The labor, except the cutting of the hay,
is performed by memberc of the home.
Now, right here, people SEE these men out
in the fields working and are apt to say:
"If they can work on the farm here why
not go ont and work for theirsown sup
port?"
Perhaps some of the JOURNAL readers
know something of general farm work and
know that it from sun to sun and often late
into the evening, and it is work too. These
men work eight hours per day, and the
work is light. They are not hurried and
receive only small pay. 1t is the cheapest
way the work can be done and helps many
poor fellow to few dollars TO send to
some one who is in part dependent upon
him.
There are from 65 to 20 working the
greater part of the summer. Could these
men compete with the young, stout, able
bodied men who are by hundreds anxiously
looking for work? Certainly not. They
are on an average nearly 60 years old and
can perform only light manual labor and
that only for few hours at a time.
There are about 80 head of cattle; As
cows now giving milk with three more to
come in soon, "a heifers, ~ of which will
come in next spring and ~ the following
spring, aud there are ~ heifer calves.
Sometime, just hunt up Mr.. II. S. Gray,
who has entire charge of the stock, and he
will take pride in showing you as fine a
herd of cows and heifers as you can find
anywhere. They are all Holsteins and
nearly all thoroughbred. They are beauties.
The cows are MIXED at about so A NJ.
and 3 so 2. NJ, and the daily average is
over 100 gallons to each milking, which is
used for The table. The milking is done by
seven men and Mr.. Gray is always on hand
to ttend to it in person.
There are six span and three single
horses used for working purposes, also one
yoke of fine oxen. Mr.. Lynn has charge
of the teams and teamsters. Thus briefly,
l give you an idea, in part, of the agricul-
tural interests at the Home. All operations,
| whether farming, building or repairing,
receives the personal and daily attention of
the governor of the Home. And all affairs
of the Home are watched carefully and
interestedly by a general committe of the
whole of the members, and what critics
they are!
Next Thursday, Aug. IA, Kelley League
No. 2, of the Home, will have its annual
excursion. The members with their friends,
will leave Gardiner on the Islander at 7
o'clock A. NJ, going down directly to
Boothbay Harbor, stopping there for a
short time. The next point visited will be
Ocean Point; reaching Capitol Island in
season for dinner. After dinner and time
for sightseeing back to Ocean Point, via
Capitol Island to pick up those who wish to
stop at those points. Coming back. stop
will be made at Bath, where, by permission
of Gen. T. w. Hyde, the extensive works
of the Bath Iron Works, can be visited.
The bnat will arrive at Gardiner at about
| s 2. M.
The league is officered by W. S. Oak
man, pres Robert Black, vice pres; and
j. w. Newton, treas. The committee hav-
ing the excursion in charge know just how
to make things pleasant, and jolly good
time may be expected. The Home band
will accompany the excursion. Good mu-
sic, good crowd and good day, we hope.
Number of tickets limited. A few are on
sale at Noyes' drug store ard Bicknell &
Neale's Gardiner.
Number of men on morning train, 1898 !;
Number of patients in hospital, 250. Died,
Aug. 6, John Kalligan, Co. c, 4Sth N. Y.