The Portland daily press., 1877-09-25
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
The Crops in Maine.

The Lewiston Journal has gathered from
its correspondents reports of the crops
throughout the state. These reports it sums
up as follows:
Maine is making greater efforts than here.
toforo, to grow her own grain, the farmers
have become nearly or quite convinced that
an agricultural state ought not to depend
largely upon other states for the supply Of
-four, wheat and corn. 1t is becoming plain
to all that Maine cannot reach that degree Of
prosperity which is her natural right te
enjoy until she becomes selfsustaining as an
agricultural state, or, in other words until
she shall produce all the staple agricultural
crops suited to her climate and soil, in quanti-
ties sufficient to meet all the wants OF her
people. She does not do this at present, but
she comes much nearer to it than she did
five years ago, and an equal advance for the
next ten years will bring her very near if not
quite up to it.
This is encouraging and matter fol
hearty coDgratulation with all who have the
best interests of Maine farmers OF heart. II
is quite surprising how rapidly the culture Of
equally as satisfactory, to note the almost
uniform success which of late years has at
tended the attempt at wheat-rasing with
new and suitable varieties aud improved
methods of culture. Further efforts in this
direction are full of promise to the farmers.
1t will be noticed that some of our reports
show that already half enough wheat TO sup
ply the town is raised in some localities
This is marked increase over what it was
only three or four years ago. One farmer in
Limerick. Mr.. Moore, this year raised 1870
bushels of as plump, nice looking winter
wheat as we ever saw. A few such farmers
as that, in every town, is what we want to
enable Maine to raise her own flour.
The reports of the hay crop are guile ia.
vorable. The amount of the crop is slightly
below the average, but the quality is unusual
ly good, and that will almost or quite COM
pensate for the slight falling off in quantity
so that it may virtually be considered that an
average crop has been harvested. The hay
crop is the most valuable crop raised in
Maine, and when the farmers secure an aver.
age yield OF that, they possess the basis oil
prosperity.
The statistics of the corn crop show that
large area has been planted, and the yield
on the whole will be rather above an average
which will secure very large crop in the
state. 1t was only few years ago that il
was quite common to have farmers say thai
they could buy their corn cheaper than they
could raise it. We have not heared this ex
preston now for two years, which we regard
as an indication that farmers have changed
their opinions as well as practice as regards
contrasting.
The fruit crop is universally admitted to be
about the same as failure all over the state.
The raVages of the caterpillar last year and
the fact of this being the off year for trees to
bear will account tor the failure. But this
year is the last, let us hope, in which the
fruit crop will prove feilure. A brighter
future awaits fruit-growing in Maine. The
results of the past few years have effectually
done away with the fear sometimes expressed
that SO much fruit would be raised that il
would become Improbable. Notwithstand
the emmense crop raised last year in nearly
all the other states except Maine, it was
readily disposed of, large quantities having
been shipped to England Opening a market
which will require large quantities every
year)and in the spring prices were ranging
from 81 to SIS per barrel for apples. Farm
ers need have no fear OF raising too many ap
Piles. The more they raise the greater the
the demand is for them. At $1.50 to 50 pei
barrel apples are the most profitable crop
raised on the farm, and at these prices i'm.
mense quantities could be sold.
The potato crop is bountiful one. The
area planted was unusually large, and the
yield is good. The rot in some localit es is in
juring the crop. The damage from the Colo
RADIO beetle has not been very extensive. The
farmers were on the alert, and fought hin
vigorously, coming off victorious. Next year
however, the beetle will appear in much larg
er numbers, early in the season, and more
severe contest will be had with them. The
high price of potatoes last winter induced
farmers to plant too extensively, and prices
are very low this fall. The result will be thai
next year limited amount of land will b.
planted to potatoes, and good prices will pre-
vail.
Other crops indicate very satisfactory con
dition. The produce of the dairy will bt
about an average. The prolonged drought il
May, June and July, seriously injured the
feed, and diminished the production of cheese
and butter somewhat. The dairy industry
however, has largely increased in extent ant
importance during the past five years, and il
one of the most important branches of farm
enterprise.
On the whole, the present year has beer
an unusually successful and prosperous one
to the farmers, and they should feel encour
aged to enter upon next years work with al
increased determination to excel in their cho
sen calling, advance its interest and improve
its methods.