Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-20
AGRICULTURE.
Extract fom Report fran Labor
Commissioner On This Subject.
Maine Second to None in the Raising Of Fruits,
Vegetables and Other Products.


The following extracts are taken from
the report of Labor Commissioner S W
Matthews. on agriculture, for the past
year:
agriculture is entitled to a foremost
place among the industries of the State
About one-third of the total area of Maize
is included in farms, but the quantity of
improved farm lands is considerably less
being between 3,000,0 900 and 1000, 600
acres while of the $50, 300 families in
Maine, 62, 122 live on farms. In the line of
agricultural wealth, the State possesses
many and diverse resources. In agricul
ture. as in other branches OF industry, great
changes have been inaugurated aud those
who have thoroughly kept up to date, and
adopted the most approved methods, find
that farming pays. Especially is this true,
in those sections of the State where manu-
featuring and industrial enterprises
flourish, thus opening TO the farmers a
good market at remuneratiye. prices.
Names hay crop is almost universally
large, and exceeds in value the grain crop
of states OF like population in the West
Potatoes can nowhere be raised to so good
advantage as in fertile Aroostook, and that
county has eclipsed all previous records,
this years by a crop approximating 1000,
900 bushels. While it is desirable that
this great county, with its fertile soil and
unlimited agricultural resources, should
give more attention to diversified crops,
the wonderful possibilities of the region
are strikingly illustrated by the phenome,
nal potato harvest of 1895.
Closely allied with the raising of pota-
toes, is the starch industry, and when
prices are low, the half hundred or so
starch factories through Northeastern
Maine can grind to advantage the super
auous tubers into starch. The capacity of
Maine starch factories is upwards of 5000
tons annually, consuming about 5000, |
600 bushels of potatoes.
The dairy interests are steadily LOOM |
ing into prominence and the future is very |
promising Butter factories and |
creameries have sprung up in different |
parts of the State, and the poor butter of |
former days is being suppiantcd by high |
grade article at all times in demand at
high prices. Cheese factories are also
numerous and the condensed milk factory
of the Maine Condensed Milk Co. at
Newport, is successfully demonstrating the
possibilities Of this new industry in our
State.
Live stock can be raised to advantage, |
the conditions being highly favorable, and
in the line of horse breeding, no state, not
even Kentucky, can excel us. The in
tercst in blooded stock has been given new
impetus in recent years by the numerous
trotting parks established in different
parts through the State In addition to
the two State fairs at Bangor and Lewis
ton, the Rigby mile track has been built
near Portland and another ut Old Orchard,
while throughout the State other parks
have been opened in late years.
The value of Names orchard products
is rapidly increasing, and fruit culture
holds out the strongest inducements, this
being the most promising occupation at
the present time. For the raising of ap-
pies and pears, Maine can surpass any |
other section, while many smaller fruits
can be produced to good advantage.
"Of late years Il foreign demand has
sprung up, and, during the shipping sea
son of 1S94-95, upwards of 900, 600 barrels
of apples Were shipped to England from
the ports of Portland, Boston and New |
York
An apple orchard Of winter fruit in |
Maine Is much to be preferred to an orange |
grove in Florida or California.