Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-26
On the Farms of Central Maine
News Notes of Interest Agricuurist Horticuturlst
Dairynan and Poultry Raiser
Successful Farmer
Who Uses His Head AS
Well AS His Hands

Most men in any line of business,
who have become prosperous. II
a jked to give one their formula for
Success, are unable to do so. IL
they are naturally modest, they Will
tell you about long hours and hard
work. While these factors are al
ways essential in any undertaking,
lit is also true that other elements
must enter in, such as knowing
your job, careful planning and
visions, or, in other words, a de-
termination to succeed. This ap-
plies to the farmer as well as to men
in other walks of life and it is inter-
esting to note that each year more
farmers are breaking away from the
old haphazard methods and are rae
ing their problems with a new
knowledge which is bound to bring
success. Not only to themselves
but to the state and nation.
Fred l.. Horne of Skowhegan and
Norridgewock is a striking lllustra-
ton of the successful farmer, VINO
has used his head as well as ms
hands. Thirtytwo years, ago, MI.
Horne purchased a small run down
farm of FPS acres with dilapidated
buildings in the town of Norrldge-
wock on the south river road be-
tween that village and Skowhesan.
STRUGGLING along as best he could
and never content unless he could
see signs of progression, he gradu-
ally turned his land into a fertile
garden. BY crop rotation he found
that his fields We're especially
adapted to the raising of sweet corn
and during these years the raising OF
this product has been a speciality
and he has yet to have a failure.
His next job was to. rebuild and this
was done with the thoroughness
that is his characteristic. so that by
the time his only son was old
enough to take a mans place. the
home farm was beginning to attract
attention. Twelve years after pur-
chasing his farm, Mr.. Horne started
a milk route in Skowhegan which
has constantly grown until today he
operates a herd of 25 cows. Still the
little farm was not large enough to
carry out all the ambitions of Mr..
Horne and as the opportunity pre-
scented, he purchased a neighboring
farm of 225 acres. BY this time
there were three rugged grandsons to
take their places in the firing line,
making a five man team that soon
was turning the new. purchase into a
land of milk and honey.
Mr.. Horne had now arrived at that
period of success where most men
II
over the reins to younger man. but
that innate ambition was still driv-
ing him to further conquests and a
short time ago. he purchased still
another 225 acre farm near the others
This place was sp1endidiy equipped
with an attractive modern house. a
large barn and a large new up to-
date stable. At last hard luck hit
Mr.. Horne wallop. for on Septem-
Der IL. during a terrific thunder
storm. this barn and stable. filled to
the rideepole with hay and grain.
was struck by lightning and burned
to the ground This loss of several
thousands OF dollars would have dis
couraged many younger man but
today there is a replica of the. stable
nearly ready for use and plans have
already been drawn for new hay
barn, 125X42 feet and COW barn
that probably cannot be eXcelled in
Maine. The COW barn will house so
cows and will have every known i'm
provement so that one man will be
able to do the work. The lumber for
these new buildings will be cut from
the farms on which there is more
than a million feet besides quanti-
ties of wood.
Nearly all the work is done by
two large tractors and there are
three motor trucks to assist the
horses In their work.
1t will be well worth the time Of
any farmer to visit the Horne farms
for he is certain to receive much
inspiration and food for thought,