Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-14
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FOR MAY.
Crop Bulletin. No. 2. Full Of iniormation-
Prices About the Same.

Board bulletin No. 2 is now out 1t
comprises &c pages, chiefly devoted to the
answers of correspondents There have
come from all parts of the State IT'S re-
plies to the various questions asked by
the secretary. From the replies to the
question, Have the grass fields come
through the winter in good condition.
Secretary McKeen concludes tthat taking
the entire State, grass fields never
wintered in better condition, but two cor
respondents speaking of any winter kill
ing, and those only to limited extent"
Continuing, he says;
AS We carefully average the replies to
question two Gas to acreage of grain sown)
we place the acreage of grain at 10, as
compared with last season, and there
seems to be strong feeling ON the part
of all the correspondents that this should
be still further increased, and that our
Maine farmers should be more independ-
ent of tho grain growers of the West, as
well as of the by products of the flour
| mills and oil manufactures. Fruit trees
| are reported as wintering well, no par
ticlliar damage appearing from any cause
except, in some localities from mice.
"Thc replies to question four Us the
growing of small fruits increasingly sum
up 116, that the growing of small fruits
is on the increase, and 81 that it is not.
Some of the replies of these last to ques-
ton five are as follows:
Low prices and Discrimination to cult
vate; too many potatoes. (this from
Aroostook county,; lack Of appreciation ;
lack of market; no time to spare; no good
reason; too many enemies; scarcity of
help plenty of wild berries; their cult
walton requires too much vigilance; dis
lance from market; too much fussing;
ignorance and lack of farmers institutes ;
| wages too high to raise luxuries; too
much care. use sweet apples instead.
OF the 100 replies to question six, when
averaged, we get $12S as the value of a
one acre garden to a family. The replies
range from $25 to $500, showing a wide
difference of opinion and the necessity for
some education as to the value of the
home garden. Quite a number of cor
respondents, while they did not place its
| value at any exact figure, guaged its value
as follows:
about one-third the support; we'll
kept garden is invaluable; it has a value
above dollars and cents; guess ut it, and
then double the amount; the most profit
able part of the farm; beyond my compre-
hension; Indispensable; equal to all the
rest of the farm; the value of garden is
what you make it.
| Replies to question seven mako the I'VE
most important garden crops, potatoes.
| N
named. But the five varieties are not
considered enough, nearly all having add
cd tomatoes, squashes, melons, onions,
cucumbers. beets, carrots, parsnips, celery,
and several kinds of berries.
Cline of planting: Peas, soon as frost
is out Of the ground to Juno l; sweet corn,
from May Ia to June D; squash the same;
tomatoes started March and transplantetl
May % 10 juno s. beans, from May % to
June s melons, as early rs possible for
frost potatoes for first crop allowed to
sprout and planted as early as possible
onions from April Is to May 10; cabbage
for early use about April 90; for late use
from May % to June /; beans, pole from
Nav 10 to June /; cucum crs, from May
/ to June 5 bects, from May 10 to June
10: turnips, at different times, according
siye paintings after the first of May
celery, to be started at about the same
time as tomatoes and transl limited by
June /. :"
In conclusion the secretary says:
GAS we review the prices quoted by oui
correspondents for our May bulletin OF
last year, we find no material changes, IN
fact, they have held up 50 that they com
| hIrtf onI
cream rule little lower, while potatoes
round hog and beef are somewhat higher
This, 1t appears to us, is very encouraging
and should stimulate US all to renewed
efforts at crop production. so that, by ar
abundance for home use and for the mar
ket, we may be amply prepared to mea
any contingencies which may arise LIE
us not neglect the garden, the soilinf
crops, and the spraying of fruit trees an'
vines"