The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-10-28
Agriculture i'm Maine,

1t is often asserted, and too often assented
to, that Maine ranks low as an agricultural
State. This view is not sustained by facts.
In highly valuable contribution to the
late Session of the Board of Agriculture at
okowhegan, made by Hon. C. j. Morris Of
fortiand in the form of lecture delivered
On that occasion, were presented statistical
statements regarding che productiveness of
Name IN respect to its principal crops and
| comparisons with the other New ENGLAND
States and also with half dozen of H..
other States which produced the largest
amounts OF the same products.
Farmers Clubs, or other similar GATHERINGS
for getting and giving light and knowledce
about agriculture would do well to secure
Mr.. Morriss services in delivering this lee
ture before them. S. l.. G..
After treating at some length of the prin
ciples which should govern in determining
call to the duties Of life, and briefly reviewing
the intimate relations which commerce,
manufactures and agriculture sustain to each
other, the discussion is confined to Arricul-
ture as one of life's callings.
The census OF 1850 gives the number of
farmers in this State as 4,S43, farm Iaborers
1886, making total of so, 708 engaged in
Agriculture. The value of farm and farming
implements was S81 ,9S6, ,S25 or one half the
valuation of the whole State, and while great
advancement has been made in the science
and practice of Agriculture, and it occupies
prominent position among our great indus-
trial interests, it has to a great extent been
accomplished by the natural and inherent
advantages, and on the drifting principle.
rather than by the intelligence, enterprise
and progressive spirit with which it has been
prosecuted. When we call to mind the prom
inent position occupied by our mercantile
marine in 1861, our manufactures, whose
products in 1868 amounted to $S1 PSI. .695.
or to our railroads with an investment of
S3,OOO,OO0 more than the original valuation
OF the whole State, we naturally ask. how
did these enterprises attain to such
marked success. 1t was not on
the drifting principle, but by earnest and ner-
sistent efforts. These men scanned the bori-
zon in all directions and were thoroughv
awake to all the possibilities, and their suc-
cess is the more striking in comparison with
the position occupied by agriculturists. the
great masses of whom content themselves
with present requirements with but little
thought for future possibilities. In other de-
partments men are educated for their partic-
ular calling, but how many of the more than
$4,000 men engaged in Agriculture in this
State, were dedicated to, and carefully educa-
ted and trained for this work. There are in
other departments professional pride, a spir
it of enterprise and earnestness of purpose.
persistency in overcoming obstacles, and faith
in the success to be achieved in striking con-
trast with that manifested by farmers as a
class. We give some of the reasons why Asri
culture has not assumed more prominent
position. The great numbering interest has
absorbed large amount of the industrial en-
ergies OF our State, directing them from other
branches. Agriculture has specially suffered
in this direction. Another reason is the gener-
ally received opinion, that with our soil and
climate we cannot successfully compete with
other States. This objection has been so per-
sistently urged, that we have accepted it with
hardly question of its truthfulness. The re-
suit has been feeling of despondency, the
diversion OF large number of young men to
other callings, or driving them to other locali-
ties, supposed to be more favorable This
has done so much to hinder the increase and
of our State, that especial at
tention is asked to some facts, collated from
the reports OF the U. s. States Agricultural
Department for 1870. Taking the five larg-
est crops, viz. corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and
hay, comparing the yield per acre and the
value per acre with the other N. f.. States
and then with the six States outside N. E'
which gave the largest amount of each par
ticular crop.
IL VIII De seen by these comparisons, that
Maine is ahead of the other New England
States in the yield and value of her corn crop.
and that she is but six-tenths of a busbeI
per acre short of the average yield of the six
largest corn growing States in the Union. and
exceeds these States in the value of this eron
$23.26 per acre.
The wheat crop in Maine falls short of the
average for New England one and seven tentbs
bushel, and Sl.3l per acre in value, while it
exceeds the average yield or the six largest
wheat growing States outside New England.
two and four-tenths bushel per acre, and s14
per acre in value.
The potato crop exceeds the average for
New England in both yield and value. 1t ex-
ceeds the average yield of the six largest no.
tato growing States outside of New England.
and $24.80 per acre in valuation of crop'
She is 23-lOO tons short of the New
England average in yield of hay. and
SO. "a in value, 44-100 short of the AVERAGE
for the six largest hay growing States, and
exceeds these States two cents per acre in
value.
She is three bushels per acre short of the
New England average for oats, and so per
acre in value; three bushels per acre short of
the average for the six largest oat growing
States outside New England, but exceeds
them in the value per acre S542.
In the nine principal crops grown in the
United States. leaving out cotton as being
more OF local crop, Maine exceeds the aver,
age value per acre "a cents, and by the return
for 1870 exceeds 26 States i'm the aver oe ner
acre OF her crops and is surpassed by only 10
States.
1t is true we have not taken into account
the fertility of the SOIL and the greater facility
with which crops may be grown in the West
ern States, nor on the other hand have we
attempted to estimate the peculiar character
lstics which go to make up the glory and
beauty of New England life. We NAV labor
under some disadvantages, out these in some
form are common to all. The great law of
compensation, applies in this as well as in
other directions.
There is one point of special interest in this
connection. No one will question the adapta-
ton of our soil and climate to the cultivation
OF grass. The importance of this NAV he
seen from the fact that for a series of wears.
the hay crop alone has been about two-tbirds
the value OF the entire crops of the State. ex-
elusive OF the important interest of grazing.
on which the products of the dairy, and the
growth and improvement of stock is very
largely based, and yet the statistics presented
show that Maine is not only short of the
average for New England, but all the largest
hay growing States. There is no necessity
for this. With the same skill and energy.
which the mercantile and manufacturine
classes bring to bear upon their business, this
crop may pc doubled, and when this is ac-
complished, Maine is placed in the very first
ranks of agricultural States.
In speaking of the position Agriculture
should assume, and how that position is to
be secured, we merely hint at what should be
elaborated in lecture by itself. The num-
Der engaged, and capital invested in this busi-
ness, entities them, other things being equal.
to the highest position in the social, financial
and political world. There is no necessity-
because man is farmer, that he should he
an ignoramus or coarse and vulgar in his
tastes; no necessity that he should be poor.
or should occupy an inferior position in social
or political lfe If true to themselves. thew
may become in the noblest and truest sense
the aristocracy of the land, the conseryators
OF the liberties and highest interests of the
people. ''''
The necessity laid upon them if tbey would
lit their calling to higher plane than it now
occupies, calls for a higher standard of
general intelligence and for the awakening of
professional pride and enthusiasm. 1t calls
for business enterprise, and greater earnest
ness OF purpose. For more courageous and
reliant spirit, and stronger faith in its posi-.
| bilites, and for deeper sense of the honor