Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-12-16
CAPITOL NEWS.
Farmers Institutes Meet With Large
and Enthusiastic Attendance.
Some Interesting Suggestions. Relative TO IN ,
Hog System Of Turning Soil.

! OF farmers institute meetings. Among
other places, he has recently visited East
Hebron, South Lewiston, Bowdoin Centre
Harpswell Neck and pittston.
he reports the same good attendances
which have characterized the meetings all
through the season, although the recent
cold spell has caused falling off in some
instances, as the farmers like to hug
their stoves when the cold is in the air.
| like other mortals
During his last trip the secretary has
hoticed some especially large crops of
corn One farmer reports that on 21%
acres OF land he raised $50 bushels of
corn which shelled would amount to 175
bushels. Other instances have been re.
ported OF remarkably large results, and
the development Of this branch of raising
IS doubtless on the rapid increase
The farmers institutes prove not only
source of education to the farmers but
of enjoyment as well, the gatherings are
so thoroughly in touch with the subjects
| touched upon. Secretary Mckeen often
| receives letters asking for further instruc-
tlon on subjects which have been touched
| upon, improving questions which occur
| after deliberate meditation. This is
| good criterion of the benefit which these
| institutes exert
A the meetings, there always are Just
| as iii schools, about so many who do the
greater part of the questioning, and of
these there are sometimes what might
well be called ''fiends'' on the subject
which happens to be touched upon
These not only ask questions for needless
instruction but sonnet mes it is suspected
out of mere force of habit.
Amusing instances occasionally occur.
One natural born questioner asked the
advisabilty of turning hogs upon farm
lands for the purpose of turning soil. BY
way Of information he suggested
scheme which brother farmer had told
him was extensively used in Vermont.
When lot of land needed turning, the
willy husbandman would perforatc the
soil, by means of an iron plunger, with
holes a foot or so in depth, at intervals of
IA few yards
BY this method, the hogs were stimu-
lated to great efforts. With the most
lllustrious ZEAL would these porkine
tillers of the soil plunge In, and toss the
sod about in the most satisfactory man
ner.
The man was in sober earnest.
This method suggested Il somewhat
similar one that had been extensively
used in California, in gold mining. The
originator of the plan, it appears, owned
sand bank, which was richly loaded
with the precious ore.
How to properly get at it the owner
was at loss to know. Suddenly it
occurred to him that hogs might be used
to good advantage So, summoning an
army of the latter together he explained
to them his purpose. With gun, he
pcppered the steep sand bank with ker
ncls of corn, and the hungry hogs gal
lautly rooted the surface, tossing the
Golden nuggets In all directions
The story goes that this man became i'm
menscly rich, and later developed into "A
hog, himself.
About two months ago, the secretary
placed in huge glass case some Burbank
Seeding potatoes, of his own raising and
magnificent speciments. Time has pro-
duced a change in these fruits of the
soil and to the delight of all the State
House officials and visitors, the sprouts
are coming out thick and fast.
Labor Commissioner 5. W. Matthews
returned, Saturday, from week S
absence in Aroostook county. He reports
that the new court house at Caribou is |
most convenient and well equipped
Not only are its accommodations excel
lent. hut the finish and general style one
of exceptional taste and beauty. He says
that Judge Wiswell pronounced 1t the
most tastefully and best arrangei.of any
in the State.
Mr.. Matthews promises some interest
inc figures in this years report of labor
statistics. The returns from construction
of manufactures which have been com
niled. show gain of over 500, 900. In
many cases the figures will show some
very encouraging results for the past year
and the able commissioner annual re-
mort is looked for with much interest
In the secretary of States Office
,,cture of Hon. Thomas b. Reed has been
bung. neatly framed, The likeness Is
especially good, and attracts much atten'
| tion.
The following new corporation fled Its
n.,ers Mt the secretary of States Office
Saturday;
The ID. W. Hoegg CO., organized at
| Portland for the purpose of Carrying on
tho business of Theoretically sealed nsh,
|