Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-14
DaiIp kril1ehtr 3ournal.
Crops in Maine.

From returns Just received from about 100
correspondents in all sections of the State it
| appears that the grain crop will only be lit
tie above an average with the previous two
years. The hay crop, however, was simply
immense, and thousands of tons have had 10
| be stacked out out If doors in every county.
In some portions of the State the farmers
have only recently finished cutting their hay
crop, owing to delays caused by heavy rains
the latter part of July. Those who finished
before the rains began secured the crop in
| excellent condition and with less shrinkage
in quantity than was expected. When the
midsummer rains began considerable hay
was spoiled, and what remained to be cut is
pretty woody and far less valuable as food
product than would otherwise have been
the case. During the summer old hay has
been selling for $40 to Sl2 per ton and
new hay for So to 50. The large crop will
insure continuous low prices and will proba-
bly cause the farmers to winter larger
| amount of stock than usual. All the crops
have been looking finely till very lately,
when the dry weather began TO make itself
felt.
At present it is too early to estimate the
full effect of the drouth. Corn set well and
filled out full enough so that the corn canning
factories have generally started up through
out the State. The effect upon the late
planted corn is reported quite severe, and the
crCp will fall below the average in Andros
coggin. Knox. Penonscot and Somerset coun-
ties. In Cumberland, Franklin. kennebec,
Piscataquis and Waldo counties the crop bids
fair to run from l05 to 200 per cent above the
average, and in the other counties about the
same amount of corn will be raised as during
the past two years.
The potato crop of Maine is annually as
suming larger proportions, and notwithstand
ing the rust and the ravages of the beetle,
the crop this season bids fair to be consider.
ably above the average. In Aroostook. Pc
nobscot and Piscataquis counties the average
crop will only be maintained by an increased
acreage as the rust and beetle have seriously
affected the crop. In Piscataquis county the
beetle was more plenty than ever before, and
in the attempt to prevent its ravages too
much paris green was used for the benefit of
the crop. The condition of the crop in the
other counties now indicates yield of from
l02 per cent in Waldo to 200 per cent. in
Lincoln. Indications of rot are reported
from kennebec, Knox, Piscataquis and Som
erset counties, but the cool, dry weather now
enjoyed will have the effect to reduce the
damage from this evil. The crop is rustng
badly in all the counties, and fields situated
upon high ground are suffering severely. An
increased acreage Is reported from Andr0-
scoggin, Aroostook, Piscataquis and Oxford
counties. Thus far new potatoes have been
selling for from 80 to 20 cents per bushel.
The wheat crop is going to be far above the
average in all the counties except Franklin
Hancock, Knox, Penobscot and Washington.
The average in Knox county has been very
much reduced on account of the ravages of
the weevil during the past few years, and the
fields are now given up to barley and other
grains. The wheat fields of Franklin, Pc
nobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset and Washing
ton counties have also been visited by the
weevil, but no serious damage has been done
to the crop. The yield of barley also prom
ises well, Oxford county being the only one
that will probably fall below the average.
The yield of oats will be heavy everywhere
except in Penobscot county, though the crop
there is estimated at ten per cent above last
years. Comparatively little buckwheat is
raised in Maine, and the same may be said of
rye, though, wherever planted, either crop
yields about the same as the other grains.
In Aroostook, Androscoggin, Somerset and
Waldo counties the yield of buckwbeat will
this year be above the average, and the rye
fields make the same showing in Aroostook,
Androscoggin, kennebec, Knox, Oxford and
Somerset counties.
The following table has been compiled from
the returns of the counties, 100 having been
taken as the average of the several crops, and
a better comparative knowledge can be gained
BY it, perhaps, than in any other manner: