George F. Whidden Farm Report of 1881

To the editor:
    The following letter, dated August 22, 1881, was penned by George F. Whidden of South Presque Isle. I found it in the September 4, 1881 edition of Dirigo Rural, published in Bangor. Mr. Whidden may have been the son of Benjamin Whidden, who settled in our town in 1841, as soon as the new road had been cut through from Monticello.     “Editor, Rural: I have waited a long time to see some correspondence in the Rural from Aroostook; tired of waiting thought to try my pen. We have had our drought, also our share of the long hot days; now are having our ration of rain water and the streams are bank full. Haying is not finished yet, and much hay will be blacked by this wet. Hay is a fair crop. Wheat is looking well. Some complain of rust on wheat, and potatoes also. A week or ten days more will tell us something of what the harvest will be.
    “If the rust and frost will keep away from us for two weeks, we will have the largest crop of potatoes ever raised in Aroostook, or any like area in Maine. Then, in that case, the amount of starch to be freighted from this county, will reach to figures that will open the eyes of many who may have almost forgotten that there is an Aroostook except on the map of Maine. If there is a failure many will suffer, for much has been risked in the crop, and investors in the starch manufactories will not realize as hoped and well-deserved. Two large new factories are now nearly completed, in this town, built this summer. The crop of oats, barley, and other things, common to us here, bids fair to be excellent, and the fall feed cannot fail to be good. So far as I have seen, the apple crop will be ahead of any previous year, and will be convincing proof to many that this section of our State can raise its own apples, if it is desirable, and the same care and diligence are used as in other favored parts of our New England.
    “You will be glad to hear, and I am happy to be able to report, that the Grangers in this section are still living. The meeting of the Aroostook Pomona, which was held at the place of meeting of the Aroostook Union, No. 143 in South Presque Isle, on the 18th inst., was a good gathering of the representatives of most of the subordinate granges of this section. Mapleton, Maysville, Caribou, Easton, and Aroostook Union of Presque Isle, and Westfield were well reported by members from each. They came with their baskets and spent the day, enjoying each other’s company as good brothers and sisters of this Order have learned how to do. Eleven new members were added to this body whose work and influence for good in the future may be at present undervalued. Bros. E.E. Parkhurst, the Master, and L.W. Reid, Lecturer, are earnest and efficient workers in our cause, and have, as they deserve, our unreserved confidence and esteem.
    “The question uppermost for discussion was the North Aroostook Agricultural Society, ‘Shall we patronize it this year?’ After mature consideration it was voted to do so. This decision seemed almost unanimous. The next meeting was appointed at Maysville Centre, Oct. 20. Question to be considered – Fruit Culture – ‘Can it be made profitable in Aroostook?’ ‘What are the most profitable crops for us to raise?’
    “Thus you will see, Brother Editor, that our Pomonas have work to do to interest all the subordinate granges for a long winter to come, subjects to inquire and study into. And your columns and the “Home Farm” will help us too. These meetings will be looked forward to with pleasure as a reunion of friends and acquaintances as well as conference as to how we shall decide and act as good husbandmen.”
Steve Sutter
Presque Isle