The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-06

is still covered with forest growth, and
is the great timber producing section of
the State. OF the entire land surface Of the
State, only little more than one-third
is embraced in the farms, and of this
about three and one-half million acres
are classed as improved iands.'
The census of 1890 divides the 1907 $50
families in Maine into 81, 122 families
occupying farms and IS, 233 families oc-
cupying homes that are not on farms.
More than % per cent. of the farm fam
lilies own their homes, while less than
s per cent. hire the farms they occupy.
By the census figures, about Is per cent.
of the farm-owning families own their
farms free from encumbrance.
AS matter of fact the percentage is
even greater than this, as the census re-
turns in relation to mortgages were
taken from the Registry records and, in
many instances, mortgages that have
been fully paid have not been discharged
on the Register sbooks and hence appear,
as unpaid.
1t viii be seen from the above figures
that more than two-tifths of the popula-
ton OF the State are engaged in agricul-
ture and, of this number, at least four
fifths are living upon farms owned
Ny oAio AlSet0o VI 4bLAlllOSs Ndlu6 Inlay.
therefore, claim to be classed as
an agricultural State and farming is GER
tainly the most important industry in
which her people are engaged.
The most important products raised
upon the farms of Maine are hay, pota-
toes, oats, sweet corn for canning, dairy
products, wool and orchard products.
Wheat, barley, buckwheat, rye and
Indian corn are also raised to some ex-
tent and the value of slaughtered ami
mails reaches total of five million dol
lars.
We find by the census of 1890 that, in
the year previous, Maine raised of the
different cereals, 1866, 800 bushels of
oats, 466, Al bushels of buckwheat, $780,
662 bushels of Indian corn, 286, 1852 bush
els of barley, 1885 bushels of wheat
and 1864 bushels of rye.
The average yield of oats, per acre,
was 30. bushels; of buckwheaU, 2O.S3
bushels; Of Indian corn, 1895 bushels;
of barley, 1891 bushels; of wheat, 1899
bushels.
The hay crop of Maine reaches a total
OF more than 100000 tons and the po-
tato crop of last year was estimated at
nearly, if not quite, Il, 900, 900 bushels.
The wool product of Maine reaches
nearly 100000 pounds and the value of
her apple crop exceeds one and one-half
million dollars.
Dairying is rapidly becoming one of
the leading industries of the State.
Creameries are increasing in number in
all portions of the State, and the product
of our Maine creamerieS ranks among
the best in the market.
The business of canning sweet corn
has grown to considerable proportions
and in certain portions of the State the
raising of sweet corn for canning pur-
poses forms very important and profit
able branch of agriculture. There are
in the State upwards of 120 corn canning
factories and in some years the total out
put has reached nearly 100000 cans
or 600, 900 cases.
The business of starch-making in
Maine is one of increasing importance
and as that industry is almost wholly
confined to Aroostook County, a few
words in relation to that great
agricultural section of the State will not
be inappropriate.
Aroostook County contains an area of
$500 square miles-an extent of terrific
ry almost equal to the entire State of
Massachusetts,. 1t has, in many por-
tions, most fertile and productive soil,
and, when its resources are fully devel-
oped, is destined to be the most import
ant and valuable agricultural section of
New England. The soil is easy of Gull
tivation and the underlying ledge of por
GUS limestone gives it very complete nat
ural drainage.
A large portion Of the county is still
covered with it's original forest growth,
but in the valley of the Aroostook river
and in the southern portion of this coun-
ty many towns have been settled and
this section is now the most prosperous
agricultural portion of the entire State.
The attention of the people of Maine
was first called to the rich soil of Aroos-
took during the time of the boundary
troubles, known as the Aroostook war,
about 1910; and Immediately after the
settlement of the dispute emigration to
the county commenced. The population
of the county, which, in 1910, was little
more than 5000, has increased to up
wards of SO, 900 and it's valuation to fully
$17,000,O00.
In 1872, the manufacture of potato
starch was commenced in the Aroostook
valley, since which time the business has
increased, until today there are some
fifty starch factories in the county.
These factories consume in the aver
age year, at least 100000 bushels of
potatoes and in the years when the mar
ket price is very low, as in the present
year, much larger amount is ground
up.
AS a proof of the fertility of Aroostook
soil. it may be stated that in the great
contest for the American Agriculturist
prize for the largest crop Of potatoes
raised on an acre in 1889, open to all
America, the largest yield was obtained
on an Aroostook farm, and OF the largest
five yields three were raised in Aroos-
took.
These were as follows: Largest yield
per acre in all America in 1880, Charles
B. Coy, of Presque Isle. 1888 bushels;
third largest yield, Fred S. Wiggin,
Pressure Isle, 537 bushels; fifth, Delano
Moore, Pressure Isle, 523 bushels. In
the contest of the following year, which
was not SO favorable a season in the
county, though the first prize did not
again fall to Aroostook, yet her best rec
ord reached TAI bushels per acre and the
yield on number of acres entered for
the prize exceeded 800 bushels.
The outlook for agriculture generally
IN Maine is most encouraging, and as
her resources come TO be more fully de- l