Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-28
unoccupi.d Farm Opportunities.

still has it's eye on the so-cailed
| abandoned farms" is indicated by a
| bulletin just issued which is of more
| than passing interest. This bulletin
discusses a farming belt that extends
across New York state, and declares
that there is no agricultural land in
the state that is not claimed and that
it seldom happens that the land is
sold for taxes.
This is precisely what we have said
of Maine. These 'abandoned' farms
are not left without owners, but are
agriculturally neglected. Their history
| is that of pioneer prodigality, the
working out of wheat and corn and
substitution of other crops, continued
impoverishment with nothing given
back, and final exhaustion. These
acres are then turned over to pastur-
age and usually grow up to mass of
| useless, scrubby growth. To encour-
age slovenliness, these has been the
/
promise of something for nothing.
The history of Maine farms is true
of New England and New York, and
| in a less degree, some states of the
Middle West But wild land which
can be had for the asking, is ap-
preaching the vanishing point, and
scientific methods of farming are
| much more generally understood than
| age slovenliness. there has been the
| tendency toward farms now in evil
dence in many of the New England
| cities and larger towns, there is some
hope for the unoccupied farms of New
| England.
A prominent farmer of Kennebec
| county called at the Journal editorial
rooms on Monday and, in conversation
regarding Names crops this year, re-
ferred to the lack of proper cultiva-
ton Of corn on Maine farms. He said
that at one time within recent years
| corn raising had become practically a
lost art in Maine. 1t was reviving
| slowly under the encouragement of a
few enthusiasts, and the creditable
showing which they are making from
their acres. This farmer claims that
the turning to potato crops SO largely
is i'll advised. and that farmers had
better dress their acres and devote
| some of their energies toward pro-
strong point which he made was that
a potato crop must be disposed of
within a few months, regardless of
market conditions, whereas corn could
be held Indefinitely He referred to
recent editorial in the Kennebec Jour-
nal which called attention to the rapid
advance in the price of corn and the
more strikingly increasing demand for
the grain with a corresponding ad-
vance in the price. He said that corn
| was now valuable crop and left the
soil in good condition for other crops
to follow.
| We would not have the city novice
| VIII" is thinking of purchasing a run
down and unoccupied farm expect to
become suddenly and violently rich
| He should not expect to win all mod
ern conveniences and the luxuries of
life at one jump, but if he will go
and will stand such hardships as he
would expect in the West, accepting
coarse and plain living and digging it
out of the soil himself, making the
best use of timber and wood at hand
cultivating a sensible variety of crops.
devoting himself in mind and body to
his work and his farm as he would to
the business of daily employer, and
gradually CoaXing back the long un-
used and abused acres, he should
within few years, find himself in
possession of a comfortable home and
income. There are hundreds of such
opportunities in Maine alone. not a
brilliant prospect for the speculator
OF for the dreamer, or for the natur-
ally weary who sigh for rest. but OBJ
portunities for the man and the family
who are willing to work and devote
themselves to their own interests an
they would have to do to earn a live
lihood in any city or town.