The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-12-26

r
withstanding low prices and unusually
dry weather since June. We had an
abundance of rain during May and June
and have had none to speak Of since.
Early sown grain yielded well. Hogs fat
tened on grass during the spring months,
and lambs dressed 40 lbs when 3 months
old. Lamb sold readily to local consum-
ers at to 10 cents per pound, SO that a
flock Of sheep would more than pay for
themselves this season, to say nothing Of
wool. Wool was worth 10 cents per pound,
and sheep averaged pounds each Pork
is low at present, live hogs being worth
only ? ga cents per pound; but we have
had no trouble selling dressed pork to
local consumers during the summer at 6
to cents per pound. Wheat is only
worth 40 to As cents per bushel, but there
was time last spring when it was worth
IS cents, so there is time when every
thing we produce is worth fair price.
The greatest hnderance to success in
this country is the fact that nearly every
farmer has gone in debr to such an extent
that everything raised must be sold as
soon as produced to pay debts, giving the
farmer no chance to hold his products for
higher price. Beef cattle have sold this
summer for l2 to 3 cents per pound,
while the usual price is not more than 2
cents per pound. Good horses can often
be bought for S25. as good as used to be
sold here for 500 to $50. Much land
can now BE bought for -. so per acre that
was held at IS to SO per acre when |
came here. Most of the loan companies
have about IS per acre in their land and
are holding it to get their money back
There are in sight from here six vacant
houses. Several have been hauled away.
and some have been burned by the prairie
fires which sweep the country every year.
All these houses were occupied eight
years ago.
The early settlers came here to Get rich
raising wheat, or from the rise in value Of
land, but both these schemes proved
alike a failure. A few settlers have learn
ed to make comfortable living and they
might become wealthy if they had the
money to work with which they have
squandered on raising wheat. Sheep and
hogs are now growing fat around the straw
stacks and turning into money material
which formerly went to waste. There is
grass enough burned up every year to
make all the settlers in this part OF the
country independently rich, if they had
the stock to utilize the feed. There is no
trouble buying horses on time. because
the owner has no use for them and is glad
to get rid Of caring for them, but sheep
will bring cash and there is no use in ask
ing for time. There is no blowing done
in the fall now except as fire break. 1t
makes the country look rather different
than it used to when every farmer plowed
from 100 to 300 acres in the fall Grain
on fall blowing does not amount to much
in dry seasons. Much of the stubble will
be burned of in the spring and the grain
will be drilled OF pulverized in. Spring
blowing is usually good, but it makes
seeding rather late to do much blowing in
the spring.
Hogs winter well on grain without
threshing. AS barley and rye are only
worth 20 cents it takes nearly half crop
to pay for threshing and grinding Sheep
and horses get their own living most of
the winter. They required feeding less
than month last winter Last year some
haying was done after December list, but
this year the grass has been filed with
snow several weeks.
There has been quite an improvement
in the process of threshing in the last
eight years. They formerly had man to
feed the grain into the mac hine, as is done
in Maine, only there is no danger Of feed
ing too fast and stopping the machine as
have seen them do in Maine. Now they
have table about feet long to pitch the
grain on, and the machine feeds itself by
a combination of carriers similar to
straw carrier. 1t formerly required two
men to measure and sack the grain. Now
the machine measures the grain in half
bushel, registers the number, and elevates
the grain 50 that it runs through a spout
into the wagon or into the grainery, if
near enough.
Good hard coal has been sold this fall
for 81 per ton, and Dakota coal at 81, or
less. There are supply houses that will
furnish farmers with years supply at
wholesale prices. Rolled oats are whole
some food and only cents per pound;
best dried apples I cents per pound;
prunes, peaches and aprcots about cents
per pound; currants and raisins or 5
cents per pound. What is to hinder the
Dakota farmer from making good living?
GEO. NJ. COLE.
Monango, N. Oak, Dec. 8 1896.
Maine Students in E2oStnn lTnivorSitx