Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-05-30
CROP BULLETIN FOR MAY.
AUGUSTA, May u, 1893.

CROP BULLETIN FOR MAY.
AUGUSTA, May u, 1898.
In presenting the frat number Of the
Crop Bulletins for 1893, to the farmers
Of the state, I wish to thank them for
their prompt and definite answers to my
questions, as well as for the suggestions
which have come from several CORE
spondents. 1 shall always esteem Il as q
favor II any one having any Idea or sug-
gestion to offer which, In his Judgment,
may be Of value to this Office or to any
farmer In our state, will feel perfectly
free to write upon postal or by letter,
and shall take pains to give all such
suggestlons or questions very careful
consideration.
Ishall publish the usual number OF Bull
letius during the growing season, contin-
uing the summary Of weather for each
month, and In addition to these, weekly
crop bulletins will be sent from the Office
Of the New England westher service, the
first to be sent about May 18th. We
have one thousand names Of farmers al
ready on our list and shall be glad to
have any one send the names OF others
who may not receive them, to the end
that we NAV reach every town and
neighborhood In our state.
The following IL the llst OF questions
sent out this month to which answers
have come from every county aud from
40 towns.
I ask your attention to the table
showing amount Of ground fall plowed
and other Interesting matter.
1. State the condition OF farm stock,
as compared with last years
,. Have farmers generally. In your
vicinity, carried their full amount OF
stock through the winter, and II so, has
there been sufficient fodders
5. How does the relative number OF
each; horses, cows, sheep, swine and
Young cattle compare with former years!
las there been any increase In any par
ticular kind Of stock, and II so, what Is
it, and the reason for the change.
1. Please give the names Of those own
ing silos In your vicinity aud state what
crops are used for filling them, and the
general opinion of their usefulness.
s. Has there been any marked im-
provement In the care and treatment OF
the animals Of the farm, the past winter!
q. What proportion Of the land which
will be planted or sown this spring, was
plowed last fsllr
Z. What method Il usually pursued to
Incorporate manure with the soil, IL the
plow or the harrow used mostly for this
purposer ------
8. What proportion Of the farmers use
commercial fertilizers, and upon what
cropss
o. what proportion use mixed the
fertilizerss
10. What proportion Of the farmers
feed grain In the winter, aud to what
stock, and Il IL produced upon the farmr
IL. What will be the acreage Of grain
and hoed crops As compared with last
Year,
n. II there IL any noticeable Increase
or decrease, state In what particular
cropsr
From the replies, as carefully summar-
ized, we infer that, although the hay
crop Was short, very nearly, or quite as
much stock has been wintered as for
merly, grain being made to take the
place Of hay, to good advantage In many
instances, and the stock IL, generally,
In as good condition as last year. Re'a-
lively, the change seems to be In favor
Of cows, and In some sections, sheep,
while many sections report less oxen,
and nearly all less young cattle. This
seems unfortunate. IL seems that with
the increase In dalrying and rise in
beef, that farmers should interest them
selves more than ever before in the pro-
duction Of the stock for their own herds.
The number Of silOs, a. reported, IL lGO.
In Androscoggin, two In
twenty-five In Cumberland,
four In Franklin, none In Hancock,
twelve In Kennebec, eleven In Knox, one
In Lincoln, thirty-ilve in Oxford, six In
four Ia Piscstaquis, five In
four In Somerset, two In
Waldo, one In Washington aud four In
York. The general opinion is almost
universal In their favor, corn, both yell
low aud ensllage, sweet corn fodder,
cobs and husks, are used mostly. Hut
some report oats and Hungarian, and al
most always, good results.
From one section comes complaint OF
their eusilage spelling, this winter, from
freezing. IL the walls are we'll protect
ri and close fitting cover made 10
place over the top. With tight doors,
there should be- no loss from this cause.
From most of the counties come en-
reports Of Improvement In
care aud treatment of farm stock, while
many express regrets that good care and
plenty OF nutritious food during the
winter months are not more general.
The general tendency IL toward an In