Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-30
AUGUST CROP suLLsIIM.
Condition OF the Crops, Excepting Fruit. fay-
cradle. says the Secretary.

ofabIe. says the Secretary.
People have come to look ahead with in
terest to the monthly crop bulletins, which
Secretary McKeen of the State board origi-
mated and is making such success with.
The bulletin for August will be out in a
few days and will be valuable one, as may
be seen from the following questions, ans
swers to which we're solicited and to which
a large number of representative replies
have been received:
/. Are potato beetles more troublesome
than usual?
2. What have you observed of the bene-
fits of spraying potatoes with Bordeaux
mixture this season?
8. Are there indications of rust, and if
60 on what varieties has it been noticed?
4. What are fruit indications as COM
pared with last month";
3. What proportion Of the hay crop has
been harvested
g.. Is poultry raising increasing in your
vicinity?
7. Ifyou are engaged in the business,
please state your methods of feeding and
marketing, the breed kept, with cost of
keeping, average production Of eggs, and
net profits! r.. Iii
s. Give your experience with soiling
crops, stating varieties grown and value of
each.
The secretary says Ill.,.
"Replies to question one indicate that
the potato beetles are more troublesome
than usual, particularly in the northern and
central portions of the State and the fire.
quent rains in these sections have made the
application of poisons extremely difficult.
And there seems also to be supposition in
the minds Of some that the Paris green has
not been the usual strength. However that
may be, 1t will certainly be wisdom in the
future to purchase only the best and that
only of reliable firms, even if the cost is
slightly increased.
1.-The potato crop is reported as looking
finely, with no indications of rust except
onssome few early varieties. But few have
used any preventive measures for rust, and
we shall look for full report from them
later in the season. III.
1.-The fruit indications are about 10 per
cent. less than last month, the apples drop
ping very badly but we still hope for quite
an abundant fruit crop, taking the State
through, as the trees blossomed so very full
that there is still quite an amount left on
them. The hay cropis nearly all harvested
at this date Gully 24th) and we are glad to
note an abundant crop. No pains were
taken to get an accurate rating, as COM
pared with former years, as it is too early
in the season. We hope for this later.
Poultry growing remains about the same
as in former years. The prevailing low
prices for eggs have served to lessen the
production. From the statements, as
averaged, we obtain 81 5 as the net in
come per hen; the cost of keeping does not
appear fully enough to be able to reckon
averages. 1t is noted there are no efforts
to grow any turkeys, geese or ducks. but
that poultry growers confine their attention
almost entirely to hens. For soiling crops,
corn in its different varieties takes the lead,
followed by oats and peas, clover, Hun
garian barley, and winter rye"
Secretary McKeen will append to the
bulletin such features of the statistical re-
port of the national department of agri-
culture for July 10th as relate particularly
to Maine.
These are the averages of the condition
of crops: Corn, 95 winter wheat, 81; spring
wheat, GO; all wheat. 70; oats, IS; winter
rye, "a; spring rye, 80 all rye, 81; barley,
II; rice, 81 potatoes, go; tobacco, 81 /; cot
ton, 90. H.. .....
The preliminary acreage of corn shows
LOG per cent. as compared with 1898, 76,-
900 900 acres against 70 200, 900 last year.
The averages of the principal states are
Ohio, 10l; Michigan, 1902; Indiana, 1903;
Illinois, 1O4; Wisconsin, 1902; Minnesota,
l16; Iowa, los; Missouri, 1903; Kansas,
10; Nebraska, u.s. Tennessee, l04
Texas, 1867 Kentucky, 1922 The average
condition of corn is % against % last July.
The averages in the principal states are ::
Ohio, 90; Indiana, 90; Illinois, 99 Iowa,
100; Missouri, l01 Kansas, sc T; Nebraska,
90; Texas, "a; Kentucky, 90; Tennessee,
80; Michigan, 90.
The condition of winter wheat is 81 a.
gainst SO in June, and IS in July, 1898.
The percentages of the principal states are
New York, 81; Pennsylvania, 9S; kentucky,
So; Ohio, 90; Michigan, 80; Indiana, 95
Illinois, "a; Missouri, 81; Kansas, 80 Cali
fornia, 81; Oregon, 81; Washington, 81.
The condition of spring wheat is 6S against
IS in June, and "A in July, 1898. State av-
erages are Minnesots, IA; Wisconsin, 95 !;
Iowa, IS; Kansas, 60; Nebraska, 40;
South Dakota, A.; North Dakota, GS !;
Washington, So F; Oregon, 9S. ~--.
The returns place the condition of oats at
rs, as against 81 last month. The condi-
ton July l, 1898, was SO.
The condition of winter rye July l +, was
"a; of spring rye, SO, and all rye, 81. July
|, 1898, the conditions were Winter rye.
81; spring, 50; and all rye, s.. Condition
has fallen six points since June l..
The average condition of barley has de-
clined about six points since last report
standing at II. Last year, at the same date,
the condition was SO.
The acreage under potatoes is los per
cent. of that Of last year. The low price of
cereals partly accounts for this increase.
The condition for the whole country stands
at 90, against 95 and 80 in 1898 and 1892,
respectively. This is nearly two points be-
low the average condition for July during
the last 10 years, the chief causes Of the
deterioration being drouth and the preva-
lence of the Colorado potato beetle. In the
,,oJ,at;ou Ln-ora-