Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-22

crease the production of the farm; and
afterwards the farmer should realize the
largest amount of cash receipts from the
sale of the crops, productions ana IN
crease of farm stock. Intelligent man
aoement demands that the character or
the soil for special crops should be
thougntfully considered. Some farms
are better adapted for hay alone, aud in
like manner others are adapted for
sheep husbandry, orcharding, dairy pro-
ducts, poultry or raising farm stock,
and these relative speclalties and consld.
erations should receive the earliest and
most careful personal attention and wise
Judgment. Ii the farmer thus raises
from his farm in an economic manner
all that he can in quantity, and disposes
of it in the markets of the country for
the highest prices. he has to that extent
ACCOMPLISHED all that he can do for a
profitable yearly balance in return for
his investments in lands, seed, labor and
farm expenses.
The Grange is the fast friend of an
intelligent agriculture, and by co-opera-
ton and association it assists
the farmer in the best and most
profitable disposal of all of the product
standpoint il is equally important that
the farmer should obtain everything
that he consumes which he does not pro-
duce at the least expense. His family
supplies. seeds. fertilizers and farm. in-
plements should be purchased at the
cheapest and most reasonable cost. This
cannot be done by single and individual
effort it can only be reached by such
combination and cooperation as the
Grange organization furnishes. By this
means and by well devised business az
engagements, the manufacturer of farm
implements and the wholesale establish
ments of the country, sell to the Granger
farmers what they need at first cost.
have mentioned the essential elements
and factors for financial success. Pa
irons continue to uphold and strengthen
the Grange, which is the only organize
ton that practically holds the key for the
elevation and financial success of the
farmer.
There are many indirect influences
which affect the financial interests of
farmers of Maine. 1t is of the utmost
importance that we have large and good
markets, the nearer tie public market
10 the farm the more profitable to the
farmer. We find by comparing the pro-
auctions of farms of Maine with those
of other Northern States the yield per
acre of its natural productions is in no
way inferior to those of other States.
The fact, however. is that the price of
farms in Maine is cheaper than in any
Northern State, and it must be that the
low price of farms means too small prof
its to the farmer, which fact is owing to
the lack of local markets. We find Sahat
in those States where there is a large
manufacturing population, the farms
bring the largest prices in consequence
of better markets. In Maine the rural
population is to the population of the
entire State as to 8. In Massachusetts
the agricultural population is to the en-
tire population as to 81. The average
value of farms in Maine is 1881. In
Massachusetts the average value of farms
is S3807. This shows to us all, the i'm
portance of developing our manufacture
ing and all of our material industries,
that we may have an abundance of well
distributed home markets for the sale of
our farm productions. In view of the
present low price of farms in Maine in
the most productive localities, and the
prospective possibilities of speedy de-
veIopment of our many resources, our
State offers great advantage to the pur-
! chaser of farms, for tee percentage of
farm productions to farm value in 1880
gives Maine the best showing of all the
States, In the north Atlantic group of
States for that year.