Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-07-27
The Experimental Fruit Farm.


After mature deliberation and consid-
Grafton of the claims of different sections
the special committee named in the bill
to purchase an experimental fruit farm
for Maine, voted on Saturday, July 3, to
purchase the well-known Highmore
Farm located on the western slope Of
one of the hills of Monmouth, long rec
ognized as one of the best fruit growing
towns of the State. Purchased twenty
five years ago by Rev. j. r. Day, d. D.,
large sum of money was expended in
its improvement, the erection of an ex-
cellent set of farm buildings, the clear
ing out of the stones and boulders in the
fields, draining of the land and setting Of
thousands of apple trees. While in some
respects there are signs of neglect, yet
the farm of two hundred and twenty five
acres, as a whole, affords an opportunity
for experimental, object-lesson work in
fruit culture and corn growing hardly
possible on any other farm in Maine.
This step marks the beginning Of new
ment in Maine, for with the increased
era in the history of agricultural develop
interest in, and appreciation of, the apple
and the corn, it was necessary that such
a farm be conducted to establish the best
means, methods and practices for the
every day farmer to follow. Experiment
al work is always expensive and not 10
be considered from purely financial
standpoint, for the reason that so many
tests must be made TO prove problem
or justify a course. One swallow does
not make a summer and one experiment
does not conclusively prove anything,
hence the problems must be approached
from every standpoint though certain
that many of the steps will be marked
by failure. To know what not to do is
as necessary as to know what to do, pro-
vided the information is sought for the
sole purpose of improvement. 1t is here
that your trials and troubles and ours in
fruit or corn growing may be solved and
we be helped to larger and better crop.
We must remember that this farm is
purchased by the State for the benefit OF
the State, and every inhabitant, and its
value will be determined not by the crops
it may produce but by the assistance the
experimenters may render the farmers
of Maine. We must not look for revenue
from this farm, but results; the outcome
OI lCStS. y ulCc5 lpC Aiuie ohU
corn growers use the farm through their
appeals for solution of vexed problems
its return to the State will be meagre.
Under the direction of the Station the
work is to be carried on for the good OF
every man who follows the course at
tempted or who submits questions for
solution. In this way only can the farm
be made State farm and the wishes OF
those who have worked for, and secured
its purchase, be realized. 1t is not
farm set apart from the rest but may be,
and should be, brought nearer to every
individual worker than any farm ever
has been before. Its location, one and
one-half miles from Monmouth station
and practically the same from Leeds
Junction, with the promise of flag sta
ton on the farm, makes it central to the
fruit growers of the State, and when
once the machinery is set in operation
those in charge will welcome an inspec-
ton and invite suggestions. Let US use
this experimental fruit farm for the de-
velopment of fruit and corn growing in
Maine and unite to realize all that is pos
sible from its purchase and the work to
be carried on there.-Maine Farmer.