Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-07-10
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| JULY ca0p BULLETIN.
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Secretary Mekeen Of the State board Of
agriculture has received replies to the ques-
tons he sent out into all parts Of the State
and vii soon issue his crop bailetin for
July.
| Every month greater interest 10 svsken-
Ell IN these bulletins ami them vaiue is sp-
parent even 70 the casual reader. The
bulletin for July will be of more than usual
| interest as viii be aseerfaiaed by reading
the following summary which Secretary
| MeKeen has complied from the replies re-
eeived
| In this bulletin for July we have thought
beet TO draw on. all the information possible
| in relation To the fruit industry Of our State,
the pastures promise of the hay crop, and
amount and condition OF grain and heed
crops In order To get al the necessary in
formation the fo!ioxing list of questions was
sent out.
/. Give the fruit Indications as compared
with 1922
2. Number of trees set this spring
whether more or less than the usual num-
bers
izing orchards?
!. II commercial fertilizers are used,
ubst are they. ami how are they applied
t.. 4
or pastaresi with hogs or sheepi
&. Can You give from your own expert
enee or observation. the usual profit OBJ
tanned per acre for land in orchards
I. Which pay best, fall or winter fruit.
and what varieties of either'
5. How many in your vicinity are culti-
vating small fruits, and what varieties are
the most raised;
o. How many in your vicinity have fair
" well kept gardens, and what do YOU
think Of the possible profit to be obtained
from them:
10. What is the condition of pastures
as compared with last year:
IL. What is the promise for hay crop!
u What Is the amount and con ii,ion
| If grain AMI hoed crops compared with
last year. oats, barley, mixed grain, wheat,
potatoes, sweet corn. yellow corn, or other
crops.
We wish 10 acknowledge our indebted
ness to our correspondents who have re
spouded so promptly and who have 50 gen
orally added remarks, which are of much
value. More replies have been received
| than ever before, and much care has been
exercised in answering the questions.
From the TAG replies to question one We
learn that the fruit Indications as compared
with 1892 is sixty-four per cent, only
three replies giving better showing and
four as good. The principal falling off
seems to be in the winter varieties, par
ticularly Baldwins. Reports generally
show fine growth Of wood, how
ever, and but little damage from insects.
Ia parts of Cumberland county the trypeta
is at work again and one correspondent
gives his experience with him at some
length.
Replies to question two show the number
of fruit trees set to be eighty eight per cent.
In ten replies the number is more than last
year and in twenty the same. The choice
Of varieties seems to be Baldwins, Spies
and other winter varieties, with an OCCASION
al setting of some early variety.
II is fact worthy of note, that the
Wealthy apple which is a fall apple in the
central and western sections of the State, is
prime winter apple in Aroostook county,
keeping its form and flavor far into the
spring. This difference is, without doubt,
due to the nearness of the frost line.
Replies to questions three. four and five
show that ii is the general practice to crop
Young orchards, using barn dressing large
ly for fertilizer, and as the trees become of
fair size, TO pasture with hogs or sheep,
using ashes. bone meal and muriate of
potash for fertilizer. Some use barn ma
nure for top dressing applying it in sutii
Gent quantity to destroy the growth of
grass, it being the object to turn all the
available plant food into the production of
fruit.
Replies to questions six were indefinite,
some claiming an income as high as one
hundred dollars per acre.
Reples to question seven give winter
frnIt as far more profitable in nearly all
sections with preference for the BalIa in,
Northern Spy Roxbury Husset, Golden
Ru"tt, in the order named,
Replies to ques ions eight and nine show
that many OF our farmers are cultivating
small fruits aud also learning the value of
Il garden for the purpose of raising all vege-
tables for family use during the entire sea
son. The number of varieties of vegeta
hlrs and small fruits is rapidly increasing
aud We are glad to note the fact. As there
is no branch of farming in Maine which af-
fort so much pleasure and profit as
veil or iered fruit and vegetable garden.
Replies to question ten show the condi-
tion of our pastures above the average. it
being 10 pr cent And those to question
eleven show the condition of the hay crop
to be Il2 per cent As the weather has
been favorable for the growth of grass
since the replies were received, it is fair to
predict a more than average hay crop, al
though replies from few localities show
it to he below.
Replies TO que ,tion twelve show the con
iiton of grain aud hoed crops to be 10
per cent. both in quantity and quality as
compared with last year. although in some
places, corn is rather low for the season. il
is growing finely and with a fair season,
will. without doubt be an average crop,
while potatoes and grain are much above
the average. On our farms we have the
best stand of potatoes for many years, and
the oats and MIXED grains are well started
Your careful attention is asked to tn" re.
marks of our correspondents, which are
arranged by counties. and " hich are more
full AMI comprehensive than in any previ-
Gus bulletia.
The meteorological data for Maine shows