The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-08-17
SUNNY VALLEY DAIRY
FARM, NEW PORTLAND
Mr.. and Mrs. II. +. Weeks Have Made
Fine Progress in Agriculture

Among the farms of interest and
we'll worthy of mention in the town
of New Portland is the Sunny Valley
Dairy Farm or as it may otherwise
he known, the II. f. Weeks Farm.
During the year of 1910 Mr.. and
! Mrs. Weeks purchased the farm for
merly owned by and known as the
John Jordan farm. The place had
also been previously owned by Albert
/ Chapman.
Although having purchased the
farm the new owner did not move
onto the place and take possession
until the year OF 1912.
Previous to this move, Mr.. and Mrs
Weeks had resided AT Dead Water
where Mr.. Weeks, held the position OF
station agent and Mrs. Weeks was
assistant in the post office at the time
that Frank E. Haines, now OF Water
Vile. and brother to the late Governor
William T. Haines, WAS post master
When they came to the farm they
purchased two full blooded Jerseys
Of the Hoyts From this stock they
have built up one of the best non
registered herds in this vicinity.
This summer they have been milk
ing nine full blooded Jersey COWS
They also have four nice heifers to
freshen in the early Fall, besides
three younger head.
This stock was all raised by the
present owner during the ten years
he has resided here and they were
also all sired by registered stock of
the Flying Fox strain from the well
known herd of Luce Brothers OF
Pennington.
Beside the stock on hand, Mr..
Weeks has sold several head of COWS
which he did not, for some reason.
care to keep also large number of
calves
Two very fine specimens of the
Jersey type We're recently sold to Mrs.
Margaret Mclean, who owns a fine
stock farm in Strong.
The owner in conversation with the
reporter said; while my COWS have
never been Individually tested their
average cream test at the factory has
for some time been "a per cent"
The cream is sent to the Carrabas-
sett Creamery at East New Portland
and during the month of June 1000
pounds were sold to the factory.
When the Weeks first came to the
farm, Mr. Weeks decided to enter the
poultry business, consequently, he
built two modern poultry houses,
procured u high grade of Rhode Island
Red stock and went at it,, But this
branch of farming did not prove to
be as successful as II appeared to
promise at the start, therefore, some
body else got the 700 full blooded
Reds and Mr.. Weeks went out OF the
poultry business, although, today,
Mrs. Weeks has nice flock of thor
oughbred White Wyandattes and de-
clares them to he paying PROPOSE
ton.
There have been several important
repairs made in and about the farm
and buildings since Mr.. and Mrs.
Weeks took possession.
Running water has been piped into
the house and barn with a drinking
arrangement in front of the cattle in
the large new tie-up he recently
built The water supply here, as In
the house is controlled by faucets.
A large sized Baker has been added
to the rear of the barn, also Il silo
has been installed.
During the first year of their own
ership they set out about $50 apple
trees of standard fruits but the severe
freeze out of a few winters ago killed
all of them, together with several
plum trees which they had also
planted.
This year, Mr. Weeks has for crops,
two acres Mammsuth Flint insilage
corn, four acres of Japanese millett,
"a acre of potatoes, also vegetables OF
all kinds for home use.
The increase in the hay crop on
this farm has been marvellous, also
it will be interesting to note that with
very few exceptions, the entire
farm work has been done by the own
ers of this place of 100 acres and
which is situated only short dis
lance from New Portland on the
Pennington road.
Mr. Weeks is a member of the Bling
ham Lodge F. & A. M. Lemon Stream
Lodge, |. o. o. F., New Century Re-
bekah Lodge and Fernwood Grange
also Somerset Pomona. Mrs. Weeks
also belongs to the Pomona, Rebekahs
and Grange. Each are now holding
and have held different offices in the
various orders to which they belong
In reading this sketch one can form
an opinion of the really genuine labor
which has been done on this farm and
what it must have meant to the own
ers without any write-up in regard to
it. If one can not one would do well
to purchase an old run down farm
and bring 1t up to a high state OF cul-
tlvation within ten years.
No sheep are owned on the place
and only sufficient number of horses
to do the necessary farm work.
ma MI. Du.... Tn MaSanu