The Republican journal., 1913-06-19
MORE FARMERS FOR MAINE.

Colonization of $4,000 Acres of Waste
Land in Washington County Planned
by Industrial Bureau of the New England
Lines.
Some interesting experiments have
been conducted by the Industrial Bureau
of the New England lines with a view to
demonstrate with what success farming
what has heretofore been regarded prac-
tically as waste land. These experiments
have been conducted on large tract of
land in Washington county, Maine, and
so successful have they been that steps
are being taken now to secure the colo
nization of this tract by practical farm
the New York, New Haven & Hartford,
the Boston & Maine and Maine Central
railroads, recently secured an option on
Sc, 900 acres of land situated near Cherry
field on the Maine Central. This tract
had produced nothing but blueberries up
to that time, with no heavy timber on it,
because every year it had been burned
over for the berries A large part of it
was virgin soil.
A careful examination of the soil
made by Professor A. j. Bonstell of the
Geological Survey showed results which
exceeded expectations. The soil was
found to contain a basis of lime rock
and the decomposition by pulverization
and erosion has caused conditions of Won
derful fertility. A farmer of consider
able experience was put in charge of the
work of retaining this land. and last
year eighty acres were cultivated.
Twenty acres were given over to pota-
toes fifteen acres to beans and the rest
to oats, wheat, barley, corn and general
garden truck. To this has beer added
this year one acre of strawberries and
one acre planted to sugar beets. The
twenty acres of potatoes the first year
produced 5000 bushels, or 250 bushels to
the acre, record product. The pota-
toes were of excellent quality and fully
up 10 the superior standard of Maine po-
totoes. The showing made with the
other crops was equally favorable. The
garden vegetables were of excellent size
and quality and it was demonstrated that
the soil was well adapted to grain.
This region in southwestern Maine,
not far from the eastern frontier. has
today practically no population, but plans
are being worked cut to settle at least
400 Polish and Swedish farmers with
their families on the tract, cutting it 10
into about 400 farms averaging 100 acres
each. The Poles anc Swedes have shown
themselves to be especially good inten-
sive farmers, and it is predicted that they
will produce results on this land which
will compare favorably with any the
West or Canada can show.
Land in Alberta, to which so many
farmers have emigrated, if within eight
or ten miles of the railroad, now sells
at from $35 to $50 an acre. Farther west
the prices range from $11.50 to 500 SO al
acre. The tract which has been thrown
open in Washington county is from
three to twelve miles from a railroad
and within but few hundred miles Of
the greatest market in this country. It
is proportionately much cheaper. The
best farm land can be bought in that
part of Maine for SIS an acre. The
tract upon which these experiments have
been conducted covers fifty-seven square
miles. That it will easily support col
ony of 400 farmers and their families has
been clearly demonstrated. - Boston
Transcript.