Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-12-30
agricultural,
The Season a,.a Crops ofIS7O.-II
Yield and Quality of Crops.


parison OF ffty special correspondents, re.
residing in different parts OF each county
in the State. with the returns OF the De-
paltment at Agriculture for the past five
years; and the census report of 1860.
The remarks relative TO the amount OF
land in certain crops, their quality, &c. ,
are also made up from the observations
Of our special reporters, occasional CORES
pOndents. and our personal observation
and inquiries.
Hay The Yield of hay may be stated
at from two-thir,ls To three. ,omthS of an
average crop. In some instances. indeed,
tull average crops are reported. but they
are limited 10 small sections of land in the
best condition. and under high treatment ;
and while they help raise the average 4
very little. are chiefly important rs show
ing what might be done it all farms were
in that condition. Ii i question whether
the falling off in the hay crop was not in
reality due quite as much to the drought
in the T., ct 1869. and the very uulavor.
able winter Of 1869 20, n to the absence
Of rain during the early part of the past
season Many fields were either bare or
covered with Ice Tor months in succession.
during the coolest months of lS59-1O.
while during the earl, spring Of 1870, the
injury. especially to the old fields. from
"Spring Killing was very extensive and
serious. The crop. however, WAS secured
in the bo>, condition and j, OF The best
quality. Farmers have largely reduced
their stock, anil will bc able. with the aid
OF rough fodder, roots and grain, 20 win
ter IN go,d shape their remaining stock.
some good also " Ia eventually come from
this scarcity-as in reducing their stock.
farmers II such a time dispose O! What Is
ordinary. Keeping the best of each tor
their own use. The result OF this Will bc
tha, better ilocks and herds will be found
in bau> and yards another spring than
would be the case were plentiful hay
crop secured. The yield in Maine i not
very f,g from 80. 90 tons.
CorN.-Thj, crop, notwithstanding the
drought gave more than an average yield,
wihatul average am"Uu,o of land planted.
This result may aSt,ui>h some. but it l.
perfectly plam tons Tho early hocing
which this crop generally received, tends
90 promv,, u> growth 10y AcepIHg ia,
ground open. and therefore moist; while
~ the season advances the growth shades
the ground 80 ,la, extensive evaporation
Is checked. and the stalks make raVii
growth We have raised good crops O!
corn. whr;c the leaves would roll W from
excessive heat Tor week 81; q time
although expanding in consequence Of
the dcW> and lower temperature ofnight
Corn Ukcs HEAT. /, mus, also Jc remcn
bcrcj that the frost held of remarkably
the past tall. and corn continues 10 S1iu
ia weight long after The li,ae it i often
checked ia it, ctoNth ~ early fto>,>
The extra amovut harvested over and
above the average for the pas, SIX years,
will help wonderfully in mailing Up ,bc
deficiency ru The hay crop The Yield Ton
;bc pas, 50 son may be very correctly SCI
down 10 l.tO} .0Co bushels
GEuN CEor>-'rhc spring grain crops
we've generally light, with the usual
amount OF land in each, excepting P"s-
sibly rye and buchwhcat. The amount Of
spring wn wheat is gradually increas-
inc. a. Jbe confidence ol farmers in j.
success ccomcs greater and ;hc Wed Jhi>
ycar j encouraging. twenty lu>hel, 10
the acre IS an average crop, and the
entire amount raised viii Lc POO 900 bush
els Tacyc MAS avery large falling oil iu
barley and oats, in many ctjOrs 80,
mwc pa "a la.fa crop being secured, aud
The entire yjc.d fading ,ar below the aver
age We place our figure, Is follows
oat> 100000 bushels; barley Jo0,COI
bushels, " Get so few statements IT,
rc...d Co bu,Av heat. that wc are uaahlc
To make any estimate a To- the amount
raised, beju: crop limited to certain
pot,iau> cd The Siac. and not generally
cultivated. Rye j. very lille grown, an
Judging nom the returns 10 our special
crop circular. the sowu amount and the
yield are growing less and les, with each
season Rye MAS formerly grown in
large quantities on burnt land Jhnty AMI
even forty bushels % the acre being rai>-
ed; is now only raised in the newer pord
uou> "a ,h, State, where land j. berg
cleared from is original or second growth
The rye in our market i generally
Western rye, or that raised ia Massachu
sets, as farmers in that Stale Yet grow i,
in considerable quantities, succeeding
well with the crop ON plowed land, and
e>teeming il to seed down with.
PorAToTS.-Coutrap to the fears Of
almost every farmer, the crop of potatoes
has been a satisfactory one, in amount,
while the quality was never known 10 be
superior Something above the usual
bre battle-ground was planted to this crop
50 that at, Coo bushels. j, may bc safely +.
asserted, have been raised in Maine the
past season. The late rains seemed to do
uore SosA dian usual the frost held of
remarkably. the tops keeping green. and
the tubcrS growing until much past the