The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-23
SUMERSEi fARMtRS
ARE WAKING Up
Farming Pays When On
Business Basis
Results OF Some Farmers In This vi
cinlty.

Results of Some Farmers In This vi.
cinlty.
Skowhegan farmers are beginning
to realize that farming pays. 1t has
taken them some time to realize il
/ but now that they have walked VI
to the fact they are trying to make
up for lost time. They have found
that farming pays when it is treated
as though it were a vocation and not
an avocation,-w it is looked upon
as a business proposition rather than
as pastime.
In years past farmers looked upon
farming as misery. 1t was a cross
to them to carry on the little farm
ing that they had to. They planned
in the spring OF the year to put in
perhaps a small piece of corn, a gar
den for the women to "fub" in, a
small piece of potatoes and a few 9th
er things, and they would get in
their time as though they had five
doing they managed to get just
enough from their crops to keep them
through the year. They could have
put in a much larger amount of seed,
cared for it just as easily, and instead
Of getting just an existence, they
could have made a profitable year be-
sides.
The Aroostook farmers coming to
Skowhegan and this vicinity in the
last few years has meant much to
the native farmer in great many
ways; but in one way in particular,
he has taught him it is better to put
in the time caring for a large acre
age of crops rather than "fooling
away the time on a small piece of
land. One farmer in SkoWhegan, In
particular, last year decided that he
would farm with the same energy as
he would carry on any other business.
He found that he must work hard, do
lot Of planning, be systematic and
always be studying better methods.
The first thing that he did in the
spring of the year was to put in a
good piece of early seeds including
peas, potatoes and sweet corn, onions,
etc. AS the season advanced he put
in a good piece of potatoes, a couple
of acres of sweet corn for the factory,
a good piece of oats, and quite large
piece OF yellow corn. He planned that
a farmer in order to get the best re-
suits from his farming should raise
the most of the grain fed to his ami
mails. During the late fall previous
he bought about 25 sheep. About the
time that he was planting he had 10
husky lambs. Just as soon as any
of his stuff started up he began to
cultivate. He kept this up occasion
ally and on July he had peas to
deliver to the market which he sold
had early potatoes to sell. He still
kept working on his later crops and
on July 10 he began his haying He
had always noticed that most farm
ers did work with all their might at
haying' time and he had decided from
this very thing that, if farmers would
use the same energy carrying on the
rest of their farming that they did
haying, they could not help making a
success of it.
One thing that this farmer made up
his mind to was that when he had
anything to sell he would be square
with people. He would not take his
windfall apples, put them into a bas
ket or box, and put few good ones
on top and go to market, palming
them off on someone as AL apples at
highest prices. He didn't keep his
butter until it got strong, nor did he
put old sour cream into his butter.
He didn't hold his eggs back for two
or three months and then sell them
for fresh eggs. Neither did he sell
dozy stove wood at top notch prices.
He had always found that farmers
who are always kicking about hard
times are their own worst enemies
The name of the above farmer is
withheld for various reasons. His
methods are mentioned as he has
proved that farming is profitable if
done in businesslike manner.
Because farmers are coming to be-
lieve in dealing honestly with the
people and carrying on their farms
in the way that a successful man
would his store or any other business,
1t is meaning much to the people and
to the whole community.
There are about 200 farms in Show
hogan and wherever the owners are
devoting their attention TO diversified
farming they are deriving a profit.
But the same farmers are getting ex-
cellent results from some specially.