Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-29
fir uHetf anurnai.
Interesting Notes on Foreign Ag-
riculture.


In the consular report of the State De-
partment for September. 1886, Consul
Williams of Rouen writes that Russia pro-
duces two-thirds of the total fax produced
in Europe, or about 100000 tons OF
stripped fax Owing to primitive meth
DDS of cultivation and preparation, the
proportion of thread to raw material IS
very small, but the acreage is very large,
and the competition has had tendency to
diminish the area cultivated in other con-
tinental countries. Under present condi
tons it is not a remunerative crop. The
average cost of cultivation per acre is
stated at 500. and the value per acre OF
product only S77, leaving even in favora-
BILE years a net profit of but 81 per acre.
The price has remained the same during
the past twenty years, while the cost of
labor has risen from IL to 20 cents per
day with board.
Commercial Agent Smith of Mayence,
states that in Germany American dried ap-
pies are deemed decidedly superior to
any other, even native production. The
preference arises from the superior man
ner in which they are prepared and their
cheapness prices being 20 to 40 per cent
lower. The German fruit-driers now in
use are of an inferior cnarac' er, and the pro
duct is not comparable with the American
for freshness and flavor. So seriously is
this competition felt that they are begin
ming to manufacture driers IN imitation of
American patterns, thus bearing the high
est testimony to the superiority of our
methods.
According to Consul Dufais of Havre,
there is no prospect of repeal of the I'M
Just edict prohibiting the importation of
American pork into France. The cham
bers OF commerce Of Bordeaux, Havre
and several other cities, have made efforts
TO induce the minister of commerce to
consent to a repeal but he, while ackn0wl
edging that it was mistake, that an in
justice had been done, and that he himself
was in favor of repeal, felt sure that
the chambers would not allow it.
Rinderpest, one of the most fatal of
cattle diseases,i is reported by Consul Gen
parts OF the Madras Presidency. Large
quantities of hides are imported by the
United States from India, and steps should
be Immediately taken to keep out hides
from the infected districts.
Consul fowler of Trinidad. writing of
the manufacture of lime juice, states that
the trees grow wild on that island. but
that up to three years ago there was no
export trade. The juice is now exported
in two forms-crude as it comes from the
fruit, which finds market in the United
States, and that which has been condensed
to about one-lenth of It's volume, which is
preferred in England. On plantation
the trees are planted II to 16 feet apart,
and when in bearing yield on an average
10 gallons of juice. The methods of
preparation are very primitive, the fruit
being merely passed through a cutter and
then through a roller and a rude press. A
barrel Of lines will yield Z gallons of
Juice. at rost tor gathering, carting, and
pressing of l6 cents. The cost, includ-
ing package should not exceed u cents
per gallon; it is sold at price OF from 36
to 60 cents.
In consular report No. &c, Consul Pot
ter of Crefeld. gives the following as the
average annual receipts and expenses of a
family OF seven, two adults, among the
best class of farm laborers in Prussia
Income: Wages of husband, S142.S0
wages of wife during harvest, Sl190
Produce raised on home garden, 1878 ;
total, $22S.4S. Erpenses-Food S9434 !;
clothing, $30.97 rent of house and three
fourhs acre, $3.50; fuel, S142S mis-
cellaneous, S4l79; total, 226.13. Earn
ings per year above expenses, 50 So.
The pay of farm laborers in Bavaria,
according to Consul Harper, is, tor man
in summer. AZ cents, and 36 in winter
for woman, 33 cents in summer, and 90
in winter These wages are an increase OF
about % per cent, over those paid thirty
GEARS ago. The cost of feeding farm
laborer IS estimated at % cents per day.
There is decided tendency among the
farmers of Alsace-Lorraine, says Consul
Ballow, to concentrate their scattered
fields and enlarge the acreage OF their
farms IN order that they may bring ma
cbinery to bear in their culture Hereto
fore the farms have consisted of scattered
tracts of small area, admitting only of the
use of hand tools. The total area of cult
waited land at present is as follows ::
Plowed land, (acres), 1,71S, 240; mead
ow land. 440 .440 pasture land. 1907 +;
vineyards, 1891 ,26S; total. (acres).
1927 OPS In 1882 there were 627 800
people engaged IN the cultivation of the
ground, on an average of one person to
each two acres under cultivation.