The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-16
CITY FARMING DONE
IN SKOWHEGAN
Many Realize Profits
and Enjoyment
Nine People Out of Every Ten in
SkOmhegan Have AyOcations Which
Bring Them Profit, Other Than
Their Days Wages.

L tlI Dd9 VhRcss
The people of Skowhegan are gen
orally considered prosperous. There
are several things that go to bring
this about. We have in our mills and
factories about thousand people. OF
these the majority own their own
homes and it will be found that there
is a general feeling of eontentment
existing throughout the village and
everybody appears to be more or less
prosperous.
The people in Skowhegan in the
different mills and factories are not
paid bigger wages than in other
places. but there is more prosperity
in Skowhegan than in most towns of
the same size or larger; and the one
chief thing that makes this so is
that nine people out of every ten in
Skowhegan village have some avoca-
ton. which brings them profit 9th
err than their days wages in the mill
or from their regular business.
One of the principal side issues is
city farming. 1t has been found that
every man in Skowhegan who owns
his own home raises a garden from
which he at least derives profit
throughout the year; but there are
probably hundred or more people in
SkoWhegan village who not only have
a garden that brings them vegetables
and supplies enough for home con-
sumption but also gives them consid-
cradle benefit from the sale of early
garden truck and other products.
There is in Skowhegan a man who,
besides having enough products for
his home use during the year, makes
from his garden a plot of ground less
than half an acre. more than enough
money to pay his taxes OH a $1,000
place This is Charles Baker who
lives on Dyer street Ills regular
trade is shoe making. He is found
every working day in the week at the
wealth shoe factory but, be
ginning with the early spring each
day on coming home. he commences
to work in his garden. He puts in
peas almost before the frost is out
and ON the 4th of July while others
are perhaps celebrating. he is picking
peas for the early market at SOC a
peck After he has planted his early
peas he puts in another lot of peas
for a later market and therefore
keeps money coming in from his gar
den truck throughout the summer
He. too has a fine onion bed that
brings him a good profit in the fall
He haryests about five bushels of
beans which brings him no less than
$50 per bushel And not only are
the vegetables on his own table green
fresh and palatable, but above all af-
ter working the whole day in the shop
he gets physical exercise that makes
him feel better, eat better and work
better
Then. too. poultry is another side
issue coming under farming. This is
carried on quite profitably by many
who are working every day in the
mills. stores and shops. Among these
are. Clarence Nanter. Il mail mes
seneer on the Maine Central r. r..
who has made record in poultry
raising; Edward Hes. who is an eX-
pert at the business; T. o. Eaton, a
mail carrier here who has pulled
many prizes at the State fairs;
Frank Bucknam druggist who has
number of prize birds. Not only
do these men make profit from their
hobby, as they term it, but what a
glorious satisfaction they have in
knowing they have fresh eggs for
their own consumption.
Still there are others who aside
from their business, are doing a good
thing in farming Walter Hight, ju-
Nor partner of the Chas +. Ward
Clothing Co, and Carl Holt, up until
the first of this March manager Of
the Maine Telephone Company, have
made a great many of the full fedgcd
farmers feel that these two young
men were putting thought and effort
into this branch Of their work Mr..
Hight raised about 10 acres of pota-
toes last fall and he and Mr.. Holt
have been acting as commission mer-
chants during the winter unloading
their own potatoes and helping other
farmers to unload theirs. l.inWoOd
Nutting, a jeweler devotes consider
able spring, summer and fall months
to farming and for the last two
years has raised record crops of po-
tatoes on his little farm on the cleo
trio car line between here and Madi-
son. Charles Goodwin a harness
dealer. has a large farm Just outside
of SkoWhegan village that he cares
for himself, rising early in the morn
ing and working on it until it Is time
to go to his store. John Curricr. a
grocer, has found that he can profit
ably raise garden truck for his own
store. This gives his customers a
good class of vegetables and other
garden truck.
We have mentioned only few of the
people who are living their lives I'm
such a way that it means more money
in their pockets, better health be-
cause of the exercise. better eatables
because they are fresh and happi-
ness because of the combination of
all.
These hobbies, that so many Of the
people have in Skowhegan have done
a great deal towards squirting them
on in a desire to own their homes II
is not uncommon to hear people say.
Il am going to buy me a place where
| can raise a good garden and keep
some poultry" This thing has been