Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-10-26
A REVIEW OF THE SEASON.

A
The productive season Of the presen,
year has now closed. The bounty with
which the farmers efforts have been re-
warded IL now measured and the
products are In store. In many respects
the season has been marked py excs'p-
tionsl characteristics. From the advent
OF spring to the month Of September the
rAin fall was 50 frequent and copious Ms
To interfere with all farm work and to u
great degree obstruct the growth and
development Of crops. Nothing like Il
Is on record. la the time named the rain
fall Was heavier by far than ever before
known. The soil MAS kept filed with
| water, thus prohibiting absolutely the
seeding In, In proper Time, OF much Of
The land and also preventing the usual
development OF the limited crops seeded.
As q result, the area seeded was much
shortened. OF the two principal crops
OF the farm, corn and potatoes, no more
than half the number of acres was plant
cd In the state nj large that Was intend
ed at the opening of the spring. A large
measure of what was planted was only
done at the latest date n crop from tie
planting Was deemed possible. Then,
further, the floods Of water on the land
and the succession Of cold and cloudy
days held In check the progress Of all
vegetation and brought all crops requir-
ing full season so late as 20 fail of full
development. Grass is the only crop
that will grow 10 unreasonable weather.
Give plenty Of water aud grass will make
a crop.
Hay made full crop and Was the only
product that could overcome the ex-
eeptionxble conditions charscterixiuS
the season. oi this much was more or
less damaged by the frequent rains dur
ing its harvest.
All other crops, without exception,
made a mesgre showing At harvest
Grain, including all kinds, Was hardly
half a crop, and with the quality as in-
terior ss the quantity. Corn, TO which,
between the canning factory, the silo and
the corn crib, more and more attention
has yearly been given, WAS contracted
In area fully one-third from the early
spring intentions The results OF growth
were all the way from failure to two
thirds OF a crop. The sweet corn for
the canneries had the innings this season
Tor the reason IL only had TO iill. The
Weld put up AZ the different factories
varied from something less than half =
crop 10 a tribe under two-thirds OF the
ususl Weld. The silo has taken care o.!
its part OF the crop whatever Its stage OF
immsturity. Some OF that intended for
the crib has ripened half = crop. while
much Of IL Is measured only by Its fod-
der value.
Potatoes make even worse record
than the corn crop. Between the drown
ing, the rust and the rot, outside OF the
northern border Of the state there is lit
tie left 20 be measured. On some dry
lands here and there 8 farmer has har-
vested half WELD In good condition.
Thousands OF farmers have not enough
left out OF the mud aud rot for home use.
Skipping from the cultivated field to
orchard products there IL found almost
famine the state over. Only In few
isolated cases Of limited extent sre there
any merchAntable apples 10 be found.
So complete n failure throughout the
whole state was never before known.
With this the whole story OF the apple
crop IL told.
The record OF the year on the farm Is
not encouraging. Yet In the fitty years
the writer has worked on farm there
has not been another Of so general failure.
Few sections Of the country, We believe,
can show so good record. We can
meet failure once In half century
without serious embarrassment. Farm
ers are not, therefore, east down by the
disAppointments Of the present year.
With faith In the business that feeds the
world aud In hope for its future, they
will 90 on with their efforts In cheerful
ness, preparing for another year, on
still larger scale, on account OF the
failure OF the present, and with an In
creased knowledge Of the requirements
involved. gained BY further reading and
study.-Msine Farmer.