Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-02
NO 2S4.
#isfella,lenns.
For the Journal.
REVIEW OF THE CROPS.

The yield of corn the present year was
about an average one. although in several
localities it was somewhat injured by the
drouth. yet wherever the soil was in good
condition, well manured and thoroughly
cultivated. the farmer has harvested fair
crop of excellent corn A majority of
the farmers are apt to be negligent about
hoeing and cultlvating their corn through
out the growing season, and the result
when harvest-time arrives is a field OF tall
barn grass and pig.weeds, with a small
crop of poor and stunted corn. We have
seen many fields the present season which
tailed with this description. 1t has been
demonstrated time and again. that corn
can be raised as cheaply In Maine as else
where, yet farmers still continue to feed
immense quantities of Western grain.
We know OF farmers who feed $50 worth
OF western grain per month, and we will
warrant that there is not farmer of any
importance in Manchester, but that pur-
chases every year more or less of grain
brought from the West. The average
crop of corn raised is thirty BUSH
els. 1t should be fifty. but the at
tainment OF so high an average will de-
pend upon the future intelligence, indus
try and perseverance OF our farmers.
Wheat as we'll as corn has been about
up to the average. Wheat sown on moist
and we'll underdrained land has yielded
long, well filled heads and good plump
kernel, while that on naturally dry land
has shown the effects of the drouth in a
short head and small shrunken kernel.
The average crop is l5 bushels per acre.
We hope to see the day when the farmers
of Maine shall by their industry feed her
teemng thousands on bread raised
In her own fertile valleys, harvested by
her own husbandmen and ground in her
own mills.
The potato crop. as everybody knows, is
a failure. From all sides comes the re-
port that our staple crop is our poorest
one. There are many reasons for this
last year potatoes were plenty. bringing
only 40 cts. per bushel. Farmers became
discouraged. and as natural consequence
planted less than usual last spring. many
not even planting enough tor their own
use. Butthe main cause and one which
reduced the crop fearfully was tie
drought. May and June were wet,
July came and with it intense
heat. with hardly drop of rain; Au-
gust came without rain; by this time
parched and withered. Instead of finding
as usual dozen large tubers in a hill, the
farmer found few small scabby speci-
mems. To cap the climax came the pota-
to rot destroying in many fields one-sixth
of the crop. The average yield was for
ty bushels. The largest crops being raised
on moist land. Farmers who were fortu-
nate in raising good crop Of potatoes are
boil hnn nf y
bushel.
Although the potato crop was small the
apple crop has been enormous. Every
tree, though it may have stood by the ster-
lie and stony roadside or in the fertile
field of some prosperous farmer, has
seemed to exert itself to make amends for
the dearth of apples for two years past.
Both fall and winter apples are extremely
plenty. Cider apples are also very plenty
and the cider mills are kept at work in a
manner which threatens TO do serious
damage to Retorm-clubs, Lodges and
other temperance organizations. The c.
der drinker is delighted; he can indulge
in his favorite drink without stint, cider be-
ing only 10 cts per gallon; cider apples are
fetching II cts. per bushel. Winter ap-
plies have been harvested in excellent con-
L.
Good winter apples such as Baldwins.
Greetings and Belflowers are fetching
81 90 per barrel. One bushel of potatoes
is now worth as much as one barrel of
apples. Jacob Pope and Joshua Brown
of Manchester have each raised GOO BUSH
els OF Baldwins the present season.
The hay crop was rather more than an
average one, the wet weather of May and
Inn hau CtN 70 thA Al
moisture necessary for its development.
Never was the hay crop secured in better
condition. Hardly a drop of rain fell
through the month of July, and farmers
got their hay as easily as any other crop.
Hay is selling at $40. 90 and $1,000.
Barley, oats. and rye have been spar
ingly sowed, wheat having been sowed
in their stead. Oats have yielded SO busl :
els per acre.
Many farmers hereabouts have sowed
mangold wurtzel beets quite extensively.
This variety of beets is excellent for cat
tie, causing a large flow of milk in cows.
Beets are also good for growing hogs.
We know OF farmer who last winter
kept large hog on nothing but raw
beets, and the animal came out in good
condition in the spring. Beets are easily
| raised, and large quantities of them can
be raised on small piece of ground pro-
vided it is rich and well manured.
Although farmers are obliged to work
hard, and one OF their staple crops has
failed them, yet they can rejoice in barns
well filled with hay, in granaries we'll
filled with grain, besides good stock of
tat cattle, while their brother mechanic
in the city may be out of work and suffer-
ing for the necessaries of life.
Manchester Nov 18th 1873 N