Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-07-10
Aroostook q Oue.crop County.

Aroostook a One-Crop County.
We are all so accustomed not only to
refer to Aroostook County as the land OF
fertility and plenty that it is really an
effort to try to think of it in any other
way than as great fertile garden,
where all manner of good things grow
in great abundance and lavishness.
Now, am not going to discuss the
much mooted question of whether or
not the present three-year rotation of
crops is sufficient to keep up the fertility
of the soil, for the very good reason that
l do not know, and suspect that there
are others who are in the same con-
dition, but there are, to say the least,
two sides to the question. Columbus
Hayford, who has cultivated good
farm in the very heart of the county,
tells us that he has made thorough
study of the situation, and he is con-
tident that the soils on the farms that
have practiced the three-year rotation,
viz: first potatoes, then oats or wheat,
then clover and then potatoes again the
fourth year. or clover two years and po-
tatoes the fifth year, are all right, the
clover crop restoring the elements of
fertility taken out in great quantities by
the potato crop. 1t is only fair to say
that in the opinion of some of the best
known authorities who have given the
subject carful consideration this is only
a partially correct theory. But, be that
as it may, as long as AroostOok farms
continue to sell at the present skyward
prices it is difficult to get any one to
give the matter serious consideration.
Ii is like talking to hungry man about
the probable scarcity of toothpics before
this country again celebrates its next
centennial. As one man said to me re-
Gently: 'If can get the old farm to do
as well for me for just ten years longer
| do not care if it won't grow sorrel
even, for ii won't have to-" This re-
mark exactly shows the feeling in a
great majority of instances, and no
amount of argument or philosophy will
shake their faith; no, never, as long as
they can figure clear profit of eight
cents on every bushel of potatoes that
sells for % cents even. II this is correct
and it seems to be about the average
that they all figure-what percentage OF
profit is it when they sell, as they have
sold this year, all the way from 40 to S5
cents? Will some one figure it up and
tell us what six hundred acre farm is
worth that will grow five hundred bush
els to the acre?
But / have got led off my subject.
The peculiar thing about Aroostook
agriculture is not what they raise, but
what they neither raise nor buy, for buy
it is if you have it. For, notwiteStand-
ing the fact that the soil is such as to
produce practically every kind of veget-
able that can be successfully raised in
New England, you see but few gardens,
and the most of the vegetables consum-
ed are raised on poor soil, and as rule
under adverse conditions, and shipped
to the garden spot for consumption.
The same is true of fruit, which is pro-
duced very sparingly.
But the greatest lack is seen in dairy
and poultry products. The visitor to
Aroostook County at most any season OF
the year must go prepared to put up
with case eggs and store butter, even at
the best hotels; while the dressed poul
try, if any such there be, will come
either from Bangor, or more likely BOs-
ton. Standing on the platform at the
station of Easton, where potatoes by the
hundreds of carloads had been shipped,
farmer addressed the workers on the
Farming Special recently. The speaker,
a well-to-do farmer said: "YOu gentle
men have told us good many interesting
things; perhaps l can tell you some.
For instance" he said, 'you see our po-
tatoes, houses and our farms, and good,
comfortable buildings, and good, thrifty
looking farm teams; but would it sur
prise you if should tell you that not 10
per cent of us raise our own butter,
eggs, poultry, flour or even pork? AS
for horses, that could be and should be
raised right here, we hardly think of
raising them, and they are growing
scarcer every year, and now if we want
really good team we have to give up
from 5000 to $500 for it, and only this
morning one of my neighbors started
down river with $1,000 in his pocket to
get a good team" When the speaker
was asked why there was so much oppo-
sition to diversity of crops, he turned
disgusted look upon his inquirer and
asked, 'Do you know the price Of per-
taters?"
That question was the key to the
whole situation. Potatoes had just gone
up to - barrel. Who, with potatoes
at S2 a barrel, would stoop to milk
COW or bother with a fussy hen, not to
say weed an onion bed, or feed Squeal-
ing pig? "GueSs not, not at least, until
the price of potatoes drops very decided
ly several years in succession, and keeps
dropped"
But" says some one, "supposing
from all over Maine and New England
the potato raising habit should become
a fad, how long can Aroostook County
keep up her present style of agriculture,
not to say her royal manner of living?"
Said careful observer OF events to
the writer recently: "If people could
conduct dairying, gardening and fruit
growing, and could tend hens seated on
a handsomely painted farm implement,
TO which was hitched pair of l,7OO-
pound horses, they would go into these
lines of business on at least small
scale, but to desert that team with its
brand new harness and the improved
farm implement for milk stool, trap
nest or pruning knife-well, rather not,
just yet"
We are content to leave the result to
some one who is wiser and can see fur
ther ahead than the writer.-Cor. IN