Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-06-30
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From the Lewiston Journal F
Crop Prospects in Maine.

The crop prospects in Maine are quite
favorable, although it j. too carry 10 make
very sanguine predictions. The spring has
been backward, owing 10 the late rains and
cold weather, so that MANY Of the crops
were put in late. late planting. however
If the ground j. in good condition, is no;
usually q serious drawback to the crops
Late planting this year has one decided adj
vantage attending ii. and that is the escape
OF the recent frost. which seriously damaged
all tender plants above ground. The frost
did not occasion near SO much damage 10
crops as j, would had the spring been earl
Ter. Wherever beans and potatoes were up
they were generally severely injured.
Grape vines and strawberry plants were
some~ ha; injured by the late frost, and the
fruit Wall probably be diminished The hay
crop promises well Although the early
spring was dry. ye; the ground did no; be
come DR., enough to inJunou,,y afcc, the
hay crop, and the cop.o., ram, Of MAY gave
II good start. |; s4fFr.cn rain fall, dur
ing June, an abundant hay crop vii be bar
vested. \ vet June mean, a good hay crop.
especially if the rain comes N the early part
Of the month. or frequent enough TO prevent
the grass feeling the want Of moisture.
With the present good condition Of the
grass crop. moderate amour; Of ram th.,
month viii insure an abundant harvest. With
81 abundant hay harvest the condition Of
the Maine farmer j. always favorable. The
hay crop is the principal one. exceeding al
other farm crops IN value. It 5 to OH farm
ers. whs; the wheat and corn crop Of the
West is to the Western farmers. One hun
dred acres Of grass in Name are as valuable
as one hundred acres OF wheat and corn ia
any of the Western states. and require far
less expense in cultivation and harvest
ing.
The corn crop has generally come up
well, although il j. back ward Not much Of
il was up SO a. to be injured b, the fro>,,
and where i, vas partly killed il viii not
materially lnjure il, as j, readily grows
again The corn crop j. yearl, increasing IN
importance, and farmers find that by improy-
ed methods Of cultivation corn can be raised
at a much les cost than VI, believed pos
sible few years ago. Maine NAV Vet pro
duce her own corn.
Wheat rye oa,, and grain generally are
looking a. favorable as could be expected
Al present, there appears 10 be 40 reason
fox fearing short grain orops. Potatoes. of
course. will have 10 be fought for or the
bugs will capture them The frost ha, IN
jured the early crop. and the bus, arr ready
10 take the late ones, but most Of the farm
ers now use Paris green or London purple,
And are able to hold the beetle, il check
A, far as vet appears, there j. probability
of an average potato crop. The area planted
il probably somewhat larger than that Of
last wear, and with a favorable season a
large crop may be expected.
Fruit crops promise well. Orchards gen
orally showed an abundance Of blossoms.
Although this is the odd year. when We
might expec; scan,y crop Of apple, yet pres
ent indications point to a fair average crop.
The devastation Of the caterpiIlars few
years ago changed the bearing year Of many
orchards, so that now We obtain fair crop
every year, instead Of profuse abundance
one year and a scarcity the next The cat
erpillars did that much good with all the in
jury which they wrought
On the whole. the outlook for the coming
crop is very encouraging to the farmer, and
should inspire him with renewed energy and
zeal in his farming operations. With good
lay crop, good crops of grain Of all kinds,
plenty Of potatoes and a fine supply Of fruit.
as now seem to be indicated, the farmers in
Maine viii be in prosperous condition. and
all other interests will be promoted