In 1854, Edwin F. Garland, of No. 11, range 5 (later the town of Ashland), answered a questionnaire to: Farmers, Planters, and other Cultivators from the Hon. Charles Mason, Commissioner of Patents in Washington. His responses were summarized in the 6th annual Agriculture Report to the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee.
Based on my study, Mr. Garland’s farm was on Route 163 (not yet built), about a half mile east of the junction with Route 227 (the carriage or “stage” road to Presque Isle). Following are excerpts from his statements about livestock and crop enterprises in our area.
“Neat cattle (under 3 years of age) have been much improved the last few years in this section. We have no full bloods, but crosses of several breeds. Very little corn is used in fattening; most of our beef is made from grass and root crops. Three-year-old steers (oxen) are now worth $65 and $70 a pair. Cows are worth, in the fall $18 and $20 each; in the spring, from $30 to $35.
“We have excellent breeds of hogs, but much crossed. Pork is mostly made from oats and peas ground together and mixed with boiled potatoes. None packed for market. Average weight, at 18 months old, is 400 pounds.
“The breeding of horses is considerably attended to, and is thought to be profitable by our farmers. Most of the farm labor is done by them. The price of horses varies from $75 to $200 each. Considerable attention is now paid to raising-sheep. They are considered profitable stock when wool is worth 50 cents a pound. We have no pure breeds.
“But little attention has hitherto been paid to the dairy. Increased interest, however, is now beginning to be manifested, as we have a good market for all its products. Cheese is made during the hot summer months, and butter during the rest of the year. The average product is about 100 pounds of cheese, and 150 pounds of butter to each cow. Average price of butter is 20 cents a pound; of cheese 12 ? cents.
“Corn is a very uncertain crop here on account of the shortness of the season. Although some years it is very good, in others the kernels do not even fill before the frosts kill it.
“Wheat is cultivated here, and is considered profitable on burnt land (average yield 12 bushels). Although the county is newly settled, the people begin to plough, but wheat does not do so well as on burnt land, on account of the Hessian fly, weevil, and rust, which have almost destroyed the crop in some places.
“Rye is considered by some farmers a profitable crop (average yield 15 bushels). The “Multicaule” rye has been sown here with good success. A mixed crop of rye and oats is extensively raised for making pork and beef, and for provender to supply the lumbering teams during the winter.
“Oats are raised here in large quantities. The average yield is 50 bushels per acre. They sell readily at 63 cents for 30 pounds, the legal bushel for oats in this State.
“The average yield of potatoes I should judge to be 200 bushels to the acre. We plant mostly on ‘burnt land,’ without ploughing. The most prolific variety is the ‘Chenango.’”
Two years before Mr. Garland’s report, our Legislature established the Maine Board of Agriculture. The Board’s first Secretary was Dr. Ezekiel Holmes.
Dr. Holmes had been appointed in 1835 to “survey” the public lands of Maine and Massachusetts, under a joint resolution of the legislatures of the two states, “a duty which was faithfully and ably performed by him.” His “Exploration and Survey of the Territory of the Aroostook River in the spring and fall of 1838.” deserves an additional writing or two.
Steve Sutter
Presque Isle
