Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-29
FARMERS PARADISE"
Former Augusta Man Tells Of ARGOS.
took County Charms.
A Nest Prosperous Section-Labor in
Great Demand.

former Augusta man in CONVERSE
;lon with the Journal yesterday,
termed the ArooStook county as a
farmers paradise" and related Incl
dents that tend to prove his statement.
"Aroostook at present is the most
| prosperous section of the State Land
in this section can be bought for Sc to
IS an acre. This land of course is I'M
| cleared. but the timber which stands
is almost wholly hard wood and is val
liable for building purposes. People in
| this county do not cut and ship much
| of the lumber. but it would prove
profitable if they should do so. After
, their buildings are made the remainder
of the timber is cleared and used for
fire wood.
THE buildings throughout are mas
sive structures, especially the barns.
Are of modern architecture, and a large
per cent. of the houses are fitted,
within with all modern convenences.
The barns and outbuildings as we'll as
the houses are entirely Shingled and
| clapboarded and are generally paint
ed"
These points in themselves show
prosperity and make the community
bear a look far different from the I'M
slightly old farm buildings so familiar
| TO these districts.
THE clearngs are generally made in
the summer and fall. The largest of
| the timber is carried to the mill and
sawed into lumber for the buildings
and the remainder burned upon the
| land
THE following spring we take a
plough and root about among the
| stumps and plant potatoes, using no
phosphate or manure as the wood ashes
| from the burnt timber is fertilizer
enough.
'Bucksaws, hoes? I guess not. All
our work or most of it rather, is done
| by horse and machine. The slow,
tedious processes are not known. We
cultivate the land so extensively that
the old hand process would certainly
be inadequate.
| Pure pasture land as the farmers
have here is also minus in Aroostook.
A man generally divides his farm into
small blocks this being done 80 that he
may turn hi, cattle from one block to
another as he may choose, as one part
Of his farm is as well adapted to culti-
walton as the other"
| Potatoes as you know are the main
crop; and profitable one are they,
too
NO. We do not ship many our
selves, but generally sell to buyers. who
are agents for wholesale establish
merits"
| Yes, we furnish barrels. and sacks,
but we only have to bag them for
TRANSPORTATION to the train. They 81
West in bulk. generally, therefore we
may use the same barrels over and
lover again."
The average crop is about so bar
rels per acre"
Yes. as I said before the plouShnr
the planting, the hocing, tho digging
the picking up. and even the sorting
and tagging are generally done by ma
lchine."
| 'LabOrora are very scarce. Farm
help is always in demand and is paid
good prices for its labor. Skilled ar
ltisans and carpenters are in great de-
Inland and are paid excellent prices"
| "Oh..yes, trade is wholly cash. Every
time farmer carries n load of produce
TO market he receives his money. and
when he goes to the grocery or market
he also pays cash. Altogether it re-
minds the older citizens of the So
lcalled "49 days
Yes. know at first it was thought
lapples could not be profitably raised in
lAroostook. but now he believe the sol
is adapted to most any crop"
IN my opinion. and inevitably the
lopinicn of all who farm in ArooStook
it is the greatest farming community
the East has ever known, and no man
can place n limit to the possibilities OF
this prosperous section of the old Pins
Tree State"