Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-20

Name chester Locals-The Crops.
The potato crop in this section will be light
one Reports from Readfeld, Mt. Vernon, West
Gardner, and other neighborng towns say tina,
potatoes are rotting badly. We have seen fields
where there was hardly ahil Of potatoes free from
rot. 1t is very noticeable that potatoes planted as
early in the season as the ground would permit
have borne good crop and also escaped the rot
The reason for this Is, that the potatoes getting
good start early in the season partially escaped
the dfonth, and got their growth before the rot
set In. FARMERS who have good crop of pota-
toes on hand should hold them for higher prices,
account of the lightness of the crsp, the rot
and several other causes, there will be scarcity
OF them IL the spring.
The wheat crop is large one. More bushels
OF wheat have been raised in Manchester the pas
season than ever before tor many years. Nearly
every farmer has raised from half to an acre and
a half OF wheat. The average yield has been
about fifteen bushels to the acre. Farmers have
learned that it does not pay to send Thousands of
miles and buy breadstuf-. when they easily
raise them on their own farms, without the aid OF
railroads, middlemen, OF any other unnecessary
expenditures. 1t Is our belief that Maine will vet
see the day when she will raise her own flour,
and not be obliged to send west to purchase it.
| Corn, as every one knows, is not much raised in
Maine. Why 1t is not we are unable to tell. The
soil, especially IN the central and southern por-
tons OF the State is well adapted to corn and is
very seldom failure. The crop in this vicinity
viii be a good one fully coming up to the aver
age, although it was damaged considerably on
| clay land. The question is often asked What
becomes of the many thousands of bushels ofcorn
which are annually brought into the State The
question is readily answered 1t is bought by far
mers, who carry il into the country, feed it out
and return it to the cities in the shape of beef
pork, eggs, butter and Other articles of consump.
ton.
The apple crop is total failure. Many who
have large orchards and have raised large crops OF
apples for many years past, will he Obliged to buy
them for their table use. We have noticed an ap.
pie tree in the dooryard of Mr.. Daniel Pease
which is apparently trying to make up for the
dearth of the apple crop. 1t has blossomed ou
and several limbs are white with blossoms, fruit
| is beginning to set, and if the present warm
weather continues until January very doubtful
there will be good crop of apples on the tree.
All things considered, we think that apples ex
cepted) the yield of the different crops raised il
this section, will come up to the average and thai
farmers can again rejoice over a bountiul harvest
A few days since Haowell lady while riding
through our town, passed house, the owner o
whom keeps his dooryard full of broken dowr
carts, wagons, sleds, grindstones, etc. She
inqu red of the first man whom she met, who i
was that kept such mess of rattle-traps around
his buildings. The man. who it afterward
proved the owner of the house, answered
thus MADAM, if the sight of those things hur
your feelings in tho least, | will cheerfully pay
all the damage Incurred 1t is needless to say
that the lady passed on none the wiser for he
pains.
Last Monday evening about half past sever
o'clock thief being lured on by the fat chicken,
of Mr.. Lemuel Myers, helped himself from thu
hen roost. No one was at home but Mrs. Myer
and her son, about ten years of age, who did no
dare to interrupt the thief in his depredstions.