The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-12-30
Prosperous Elaine Farms.
be total area of Maine is 10, 600, 600

pelosed wood lands), 3, 500, 600 acres: oc-
" apied by forests wild lands), 5000. 600
es; occupied by lakes Zone square mile
AXE to each 1873 of area), and streams.
81 of which have been placed on the
1p of Maine), 5000, 600 acres
hat hosts OF we'll to- do American peo-
nave become OF late years attached to
farms ana farm houses of the State of
aIne, as ideal summer resting retreats!
Cow these annual visitors have improved
E be homes thus chosen! What cultivated
9stes they have instilled and nurtured !!
lat inestimable value thew have proven
The State, and what benefit thew have
eceved in return! Truly this is subject
Ia much thought.
he State of Maine is peculiar in it's
spake-up. With,a area of Tin round num-
srs) thirty thousand square miles, which
Nduced to acres represents 10, 1872, 800;
sven millions of said acres are enclosed
farms, one half of which, or three mil
us five hundred thousand of acres, are
oder cultivation. The remaining half
presents the home wood-lots of the
FRers.
Of these Maine farms there are sixty
'e thousand, representing cash value
1892, 557, 6l5, capital which annually
produces farm products valued at twenty
TWO millions of dollars. More than sixty
two thousand of the sixty five thousand
farms are cultivated by their owners.
Maine farms, in extent, range from one
hundred to one hundred and fifty acres; ;
the average is one and two acres. Near
che cities, and especially about the city of
Portland, where exceptional market facil-
ties exist, market gardens thrive, whose
owners consider ten acres enough keep
ing their limited farms under high cult
gation, and forcing the early fruits and
table delicacies for the Boston markets,
While in direct contradiction to this are
re great hay farms of the kennebec Val
and the immense potato fields of
gOostook county.
MAINE 5 FORESTRY INTEREST
The vast area of Names forests. with
nine million acres of Wild lands, is
ssll understood. The State has ever held
rreat reputation for its lumber, and at
IL time IT was thought that its agricul
Il re would occupy secondary position
compared with its other industries
ut in what may be termed later
tars the agriculture of the State has re-
1yed great attention, and under the
mutus OF Intelligence, good markets.
he application of machinery, and syste-
tic business-like efforts, farming has
" come to be regarded as the first in
stry OF the people. In every way is the
NJ inc farmer encouraged by the State to
provements, and more than seventy
+ thousand dollars are annually distrib-
in premiums at the numerous agri-
ltural fairs.
Within the State House at Augusta the
lost cOmmodious and attractive suite of
ms is allotted to the Department of
4-rculture, and to look from out the
Lreat bay windows of the suite upon the
smiling hill farms of the kennebec, is
lough to interest any man, of however
eientary or sordid nature, in the breezy:
aive life of the Maine farmer Here all
lowledge pertaining to the farm is stored
r the information of the people, and
d connection with the State experiment
Ettion at Orono, all is devoted to the in
frest OF the farmer. 1t is a revelation to
lly native or visitor to the State who
Fews the farms of Maine with a passing
lance, to examine into the fostering care
Il a great Comm onwealth for its chief in
lstry.
The value of Maine forests, although
e annual cut of lumber has equalled at
asst five hundred million feet is not by
y means confined to the product of the
re and the saw. The revenue derived
I'M the hunting and fishing interests, is,
doubt. larger than that of anv other
ate in the Union. and these millions
mich come to the peop]e of Maine are
rhaps of greater consequence than those
rived from other interests of the State.
4smuch as 1T is money brought from
1t of the State and put into circulation
re- me Immense sporting resources
she otale OF Name are fostered ana
1'"ufa9ed III manner second only to
1 agrleui''iial interests OF the State.
are ilost llglo game laws are enforced by
'HmIssloners and wardens' No license
feqIlIea IRON spoItsmen visiting the
@IPS huhtihs- GROUNDS OF Maine; during
-e open season everyone, OF Whatever
Si'e' - az 'loeity 70 exercise ms sport
= plocllNilieS 70 degree III TINS state,
1' ~ lii""e 10 ltei d eoralal ana honest
'elcolhe'
MAINE RUGGED SEA COAST.
The rugged extent of the sea coast of
lie State If Maine, bordering the Allan
DE-, may be estimated by the fact that
wat in straight line represents dis
ance Of two hundred and seventy eight
lilies is swelled to more than three thous-
I'd miles by following the indentations of
lie shore.
There is wealth all along this line