Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-20

s. X. Fuller Of South Norridgcwock.
has sweet corn that was q inches high
four weeks after planting.
Jefferson F1rrar Gf West Sumner
has three acres and a half Of handsome
corn on land which was seeded down %
years ago and was not broken up
again until this spring. 1t is on dry
ridge. but much to Mr. Farrar's sur
prise it has kept right on thriving
through the drought. and much Of the
corn now stands hip-high.
The continuous wet weather Of late
has. in Aroostook county. retarded the
Matching Of potato hug eggs which
needed warm weather ana sun for de-
velopment. All the crops are looking
finely. ana ArOostnok county has GER
tainly been favored this year with good
weather for cropping and ideal grow
ing weather up to the present time: II
looks as though this county would be
very prosperous the coming season.
The farmers are all getting ready to
commence hayinE as soon as the
weather is settled. having given the
final hoeing to their potatoes; the ap-
plying of Paris green will take place
later on.
A great many people set out straw
berry plants who do not get from them
what they are capable Of producing.
But A. 5. TOlman Of Union Is not liable
to that criticism. The fame Of his
strawberry yield is justly earned. His
gardens arc literally fortified and
kept clean Of weeds. The space be
tween the matted rows is well mulch
I'd. Consequently his big luscious
berries are clean and as bright and
beautiful as they can be represented in
the Nunsey mans plate book. No pict-
ure can excel his great Bubachs or
exaCGerate the abundance of his Clydes
ard Parker Earles. When he found
that the unusual drought threatened
his crop of fruit with ruin he put 2
three horse power engine down by the
lake ana flooded the garden nearest to
the shore. The result was worth the
trial Not only the strawberries We're
saved from drying up but the hose was
turned on the whiting potatoes also ana
made the dead revive" \ three
horse power engine can do a great deal
of farm work in the course of year
and unlike a pair of horses It doesn't
need fuel when it is not at work. Mr..
Tolman has found n very successful
method of fighting the white gnat
which is the most dangerous enemy of
the strawberry.
The recent rains. though proving de
sirlbln for most crops. certainly was
not ordered with 4 View Of protecting
or forwarding the strawberry harvest
This Is the opinion Of II. II. Libby Of
n ~. is-. oil IN.
Judge. IL anyone. Two weeks ago he
was busy gathering and putting into
boxes the large and luscious berries
that grow in such 4 profuSiOn on his
patch. and managed to secure %
bushels. 1t was 4 pretty fair week $
work but he looked forward to just rs
good results last week. until the rain
descended in torrents, then he felt diff
ferent 1t rotted many Of the berries.
it mixed sand with others. and il
simply reduced his crop prospects from
that time out just one-half. Mr.. Libby
is not suffering any agony of mind.
however He has too many irons in
the fire for such a waste of time and is
now looking forward to the gathering
Of one of the largest crops of goose
berries in the history of his small fruit
farming. The bushes are simply load
ed with this fruit and it is certainly Il
handsome sight to look over bushes
loaded SO heavily by the weight OF
many a bushel of the berries. Speak
ing of the hay crop Mr.. Libby who
takes as much interest in such mat
tiers as any of the farmers in the vicin-
ity, states that he thinks the yield will
be fully 9S per cent. Other crops look
well and there seems to be little reason
why the average farmer in that section
should not feel especially happy.