The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-08-18
TWENTY ACRES Of
POTATOES
B. L. Nightingale Hus-
ting at Bloomfield
Agricultural Pursuits Being Carried
On with Great Activity BY For.
= mer AgOOstOOk Man

Nowhere In this section are there
greater farming activities than at
Bloomfield Farm, formerly owned by
DR.. K. II. Stevens Of Cambridge, Mass
&nd now owned by its present proprie-
Dor Burton l.. Nightingale. Mr.. Night
''fngale is an energetic young man and
Ia a native of Aroostook County. He
came to Somerset County from Mars
Hill about seven years ago and was
fret located in the town of Norridge-
Wock having rented the Scott Farm
and subsequently purchased the Abel
Merrill farm. { From there he moved
10 Skowhegan about two years ago
when he purchased his present prop
erty> He has 243 acres Of land with
10 acres under tillage. The build
Sings are thoroughly modern and are
lighted turnout by electricity. In the
house are all the devices possible for
convenience OF the housewife inelud-
ing electric washing machine, electric
sewing machine, hot and cold water,
bath, etc. In the large barn The main
tieup accommodates twenty-seyen head
of cattle but the basement is equipped
for many more, Dr. Stevens having |
maintained as many as 80 head
of 'Ayrshires in the barn at one time. |
Mr.. Nightingale has twenty-three head
of cattle, all grades but variety OF
breeds He plans to go into Hol-
stein stock as he believes they are
good sellers and knows them to be
splendid milk producers. He has
Holstein stock animal not registered
but about as near purebred as can
be obtained. He raised the bull nm
SELF An electric pump and air pres
spre system furnishes water for the
animals In the stable. He has four
White Chester swine and $50 hens OF
the Rhode Island Red type. He ships
part OF his eggs away and sells some
in town to regular customers.
Mr.. Nightingale has been making
hutter in amounts of from fifty to sew
enty. pounds per week. He has been
making butter ever since he came 10
this county and has carried large
number OF satisfied customers. Late
ly he has decided to go out OF the
dairy business and has started milk
route in the village. An up-to-date
milk room Is ,one of the features OF
the buildings. 1t has concrete
floor supplied with water furnished by
teiectric power with good drainage
(which admits a liberal flushing and
consequent cleanliness.
- There is something doing all the
+; time at Bloomfield and the hustling
proprietor keeps himself and
n Wo men busy the year around. His
Crops this year are 20 acres of pota-
ttoes, ~ of oats, eight OF ensilage corn
and two of buckwheat. His hay was
procured in extra good shape this
fyear and the entire yield gave him 80
tons which is only ten less than the
total harvest last year. Quite little
of this ground was new seeded. lie
is going in for potatoes this year much
more extensively than last when he
only had about None and 0ne-half acres.
Whether he read the future or not
Mr.. Nightingale does not say, but at
any rate he acted wisely when he sold
them all in the fall at 81 per bushel.
The results of his oat field last season
was exceedingly satisfactory having
threshed out $40 bushels from SIX and
one-half acres of land. The orchard
on the place Is not large, DR.. Stevens
ireserving a large percentage OF the
ample trees with his summer home
which adjoins the Nightingale farm.
BMr. Nightingale is planning to pur-
|chase a tractor for another spring.
To show that the owner OF this fine
'place Is always busy, winter as well
las, summer, is evidenced by the cord
wood which he cut last winter
amounting in all to 100 cords. This
product was sold in Skowhegan and
this winter Mr. Nightingale plans to
|cut about as much more. He likes
somerset County better than Argos
took County from business stand
point, the crops that grow In Somer-
set County, because of their variety,
offering relief to the planter when
some particular line in his crop yield
goes wrong
Mr.. Nightingale Is courteous
Young gentleman and Somerset Coun7l
ty farmers should be congratulated on
having so prosperous an agr'chitur
alist in their midst. He Is married,
his wife Bertha Libby Nightingale,
having formerly lived at Mars HILL
The couple have four children, two
bows and two girls. Mr. Nightingale :
Is affiliated with the Farm Bureau.