Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-16
An Ente-prisinq Farme'.


week, to spend a day with Mr.. George
c. Jacobs at his pleasant home, stu
ated in the southwestern part of Read
field. Mr.. Jacobs can safely be
reckoned as one of the most prosper
Gus farmers in Kennebec county. AS
/ went through his well-filled and we'll
stocked barns and buildings, L
could but eXclaim over the prosperity
which seemed to mark his home ana
farm: and yet as we conversed on
various farm topics | could see that
love for his business had produced 4
shrewd and energetic farmer, and that
as long as health and strength We're
left him he would be progressing IN the
path he had marked out for himself.
Entering the first barn we saw long
line of heifers. all Jerseys of Il solid red
color, not white hair on them. re
marked Mi. Jacobs with commendable
pride There were II, all two and
three years old, and the most of them
giving milk. In the next barn, in one
row were Is one-year-Old heiferS and
two calves, all of uniform color and
farther along ii young cows. Some of
the older cows were mixed in color. but
Mr. Jacobs said he intended very soon
to dispose of these and then the
nelIerS Will take tllelT places, anu tiitN
will all be solid in color. Not a horn
is to be seen in the barns. the animals
having been dehorned when calves.
Near by was the separator, and
when large sheep in the tie-up was
let loose. he ran to the power and
jumping into it was already for bust
ness. No backaching work for the farm
er or hired man in turning that crank.
Forty-six head of heifers and cows
constituted as fine a dairy as it has
been my good fortune to see for many
a day.
For grain. Mr.. Jacobs feeds a mix
ture of cotton-seed and shorts. When
l remarked on mows we'll filled with
hay, he said, Il raise all the hay on
my farm which l feed to my stock.
did not begin this year to feed any hay
until January, before then l fed corn
fodder from the fields" Although Mr..
Jacobs has no silo yet he said that he
considered it of great help to the
farmer, and should build one as soon
as he could find place to put it. Ger
tainly every nook and corner in his
barns are filled to overlooking.
The corn stubble from six acres of
sweet corn could just be seen from the
barn door, pricking up through the
snow From that field of corn said
Mr. Jacobs II sold to the corn factory
$500 worth of sweet corn for canning,
and certainly the fodder was worth
more than one-half that sum for feed
ing to the cows" In speaking of the
income from his cows and heifers he
said, Il received from the butter fac
tory last year. 81 400. This was the
cream from IS to so COWS and heifers.
many of them being twoyearsold. and
two only one and one-half years old.
/ also sold cows to the value of $500.
The skim milk. warm from the sepa-
rator, is no small item for the farmer.
In the winter | feed it to the hefers
and calves and this saves grain. Last
spring, l bought IA pigs which took all
the skim milk during the summer, and
gave me IA good fat hogs to kill in the
fall.
A wind mill near the barns fills a
large tank in one corner of one of the
barns and from this the water is
easily drawn into long trough placed
under a she'd here all the animals
drink.
Mr.. Jacobs has had the celebrated
bull, Donney, from the Hood farm. in
Auburn, with his herd for six months.
This bull for the past five years has
received first premiums from the State,
Eastern and New England fairs. He
expects this breeding will greatly inn
prove his fine herd of cows.
Mr. Jacobs has been very much in
terested in raising potatoes for the
market in the past few years. in his
usual wholesale manner, but lately is
giving it up and devoting more time
to raising sweet corn for the benefit of
his dairy. Last season, from one acre
he harvested 200 bushels of potatoes.
Twenty years ago Mr.. Jacobs returned
from California to settle on the home
farm; there was no orchard on the
place now he has a fine one which he
has set out and cared for, and which
produced this year 100 barrels of
apples. Several younger trees will be
in bearing condition soon. An album
dance of small fruits and Strawberries
are raised in his garden. He built last
year a fine hennery which will accom-
modate 200 hens. Tehse pens are filled
with brown leghorns. He estimates
the profits from hens at $1.00 per head.
Mr.. Jacobs is an accurate bookkeeper,
keeping close watch of the debit and
credit columns. and can tell you the
net profits on any or all of his farm
enterprises. This farm, now in very
high state of cultivation. consists of
$50 acres. formerly known as the
Palmer place. About 80 years ago Mr..
Jacobs parents came here from Mon
mouth and located. The house is built
on a hill. from which one can get an
extended view of the country around.
lakes, ponds and farm houses dot the
landscape. Mrs. Jacobs is q very
cordial hostess, and ably seconds her
husband in all his undertakings. Two
daughters in schoo! complete his
household. | left them with a warm
hand clasp and a wish that many years
of prosperity and happiness might be