The Republican journal., 1904-04-21

: y
all kinds.
The soil, however, seems most pro
ductive in potatoes. 1t lies about four
feet deep rich vegetable loan, over a
stratum of calcareous limestone and
slate. This formation lies on edge, so
to speak, and is full Of assures which
absorb moisture in wet weather and
give it out again in dry. AS the rock
contains much lime, the land never
runs out" In its general character
istcs the soil is the same as that in the
fertile Genesee valley in central New
York, noted for its vineyards and
nurseries.
METHODS OF FARMING.
Farming in Aroostook differs materi-
ally from that in any other part of New
England.
The farmer who takes up wild land
at a few dollars an acre, plants his first
crop among the stumps. Potatoes grow
rapidly in such surroundings. The
first years yield pays the seasons bills
and something on the implements
bought to start the farm.
The next year sees clearing started,
and by unremitting toll the farmer
gradually gets his land partly cleared.
He does not clear all of it, for timber
is valuable, and a 20-acre cleared lot is
enough to start farming with in Aroos-
took.
On the cleared farms the ground is
planted with potatoes only once in four
years. Thus, on an S0acre farm, only
20 acres are put down to potatoes, the
rest being allowed to go to hay. In
this way the soil is not worked out and
the yield per acre is readily kept up.
The cost of planting crop of pota-
toes is figured at about SIS an acre for
phosphate fertilizer and SO for seed
and labor.
The yield per acre rarely falls below
50 barrels, while the average is above
that. The prize yield of the county is
765 bushels, or about 800 barrels, on a
single acre.
In a year like the present potatoes
are worth $50 Dbl. at the railroad,
and profit to the farmer is about 81 a
barrel With potatoes at 81 a barrel,
giving profit of at least 50 cents, the
farmer still makes $50 an acre or bet
ter on an average. from his potatoes,
without counting his other crops, his
stock, his kitchen garden and the profit
from the small and defective potatoes
in the farms yield, which are sold to
the starch factory at 40 and 80 cents
barrel.
STARCH AS A BY-PRODTCT.
Starch is a by-product of the Aroos-
took potato crop and very important
one
This year Aroostook county will make
half the United States total yield OF
potato starch, or about 5000 tons. This
is worth so ton, or S420, 600 to the
producers The farmer gets about $40
a ton for the potatoes used, or about
$24O. 900 total from the county S unmar-
ketable potatoes.
There are Ga starch factories in Aroos-
took county, and should any glut in the
market prevent sale of the entire crop
these factories in the spring will grind
up all the potatoes left over at a living
price to the farmer and profit to the
starch man.
The starch is used in cotton mills for
sizing in cloth, and always finds mar
ket.
Another avenue for distribution of
the Aroostook crop is through the trade
in seed potatoes Farmers in the South
and West have tried to equal Aroostook
crops by using Aroostook seed, but with
out success.
Aroostook potatoes, in fact, can be
produced only in Aroostook, as Maine
sweet corn can be produced only in the
"sweet corn belt" that extends across
the center of the State.
STORIES OF FARM VALUES.
Farms in good state of cultivation
are high in AroOstook, and are increas-
ing in price every year.
This is only natural in view of the
fact, that farm costing from $4,000 to
SIC, 1000 will yield from $4,000 to $1,000
worth of potatoes every year, to say
nothing of hay, oats, wheat, and liv-
ing.
The story is told in one of the Aroos-
took towns of two brothers who went
there Is years ago with 1000 between
them, and now each has a farm and
other property, valued at more than
SIC, 600
A prominent Presque Isle man told
| me this story about the increase in value
of farm near there:
Il sold a man a farm of 500 acres -
years ago for $500, $4,000 down and
the balance on mortgage. He has sold
off 200 acres for $4,000, made a good
living every year, and last summer was
offered $4,000 for what he has left"
1t is noted in AroostOOk that the
farmers sons, who a few years ago did
not feel inclined to settle down on the
farm after getting their schooling, are
now more generally coming back to the
home roof tree.
''They find there is more money in
farming at home" said a student of
Aroostook conditions, "than in seeking
their fortunes in the cities. / don't
know any line of business they could
go into that would give them greater
return for intelligent labor"
| EVIDENCES OF PROSPERITY.
Wherever one goes in Aroostook to-
day evidences of prosperity are met
with.
On the train north from Bangor l
talked with a travelling man who had
been through tine county some months
before taking orders for fur coats made
in Minnesota.
Il did more business in Aroostook
than anywhere else in New England -
he said. these farmers have money,
| and most of them want fur coats"