The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-11-09
R. 7. PATTEN HAS A
MODEL FARM
It Is One of First And
Most Fertile in State
Dairy Instructor Black Tells the Jour-
nal OF the Perfect System ON Eaton
Mountain Farm.

State Dairy Instructor H. c. Black,
accompanied by his wife, returned
from Skowhegan, Monday afternoon,
where they had been visiting at the
home of r, land Patten. Mr.. and Mrs.
Black made a. pleasant call at the
Journal Office md were very enthus-
iastic regarding the work that Is be-
ing done by Mr.. Patten in that town.
His farm is one of the finest and most
fertile in Somerset county and is be-
ing conducted on the most scientific
and intensive plan. Mr. Patten had
met the state dairy instructor at the
recent meeting of the Maine Co-opera-
tive Dairy Testers association in
Augusta and had extended a cordial
invitation to Mr.. and Mrs. Black to
visit his home and this was accepted.
The trip was Saturday and they re-
NAMED at the farm over Sunday, every
moment OF which time was enjoyed.
Mr.. Black tells the Journal that in all
he has never found so perfect sys-
TEN as he found at Eaton Mountain
farm in Skowhegan. The place con-
tains 200 acres of land and OF this
100 acres are in tillage. Mr.. Patten
has a splendid herd of thoroughbred
Holstein cattle and is steadily increas-
H., la; With fhnQo
he is keeping a strict debt and credit
account A set of books are kept
for this purpose and every item of
expense even down to the straw and
dressing behind them is recorded.
Their returns are credited so that the
account can easily be balanced, and
wrong side of the ledger for any COW
she is Immediately eliminated from
the herd These accounts are kept
with each individual cow so there can
be no mistaking their value. The sys-
TEN should be an object lesson to
every farmer and dairy man in Maine.
Mr.. Patten is a believer in the old
fashioned yellow corn and this season
he has harvested 1000 bushels on the
ear He has planted an orchard of
1000 trees in one block and as they
were set by compass the lines are
perfect. These trees are now two
years old and the growth has been
marvellous. The ground is kept en-
tirely free from grass and corn plant
ed between the rows. AS with every
thing else on this farm the system is
perfect.
Coming to the basement of his big
barns we find 46 hogs of the white
Chester breed and these have thus far
been very profitable. He is of the
opinion that this breed is the best for
the farmers of Maine.
This farm is named from old Capt.
Eaton who took it up from the wilder
ness. Eaton Mountain is close by and
from it's summit a magnificent view
can be seen. Mr. and Mrs. Black made
nal that the sight was worth far
more than the effort. On the whole
they were greatly pleased with their
visit and expressed the wish that
every farmer who could do so would
go there and study the system of Mr..
Patten.
Mr. Black has resigned his position
as a state official and will soon go to
New York and enter the service of the
London Assurance company. 1t is
too bad that he could not have been
held in Maine for he was thoroughly
devoted to its agricultural interests.
He will carry with him the best
wishes of all the farmers of our state
Lewiston Journal.