Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-07
FARM PRACTICE
Is the Subject Of the Board BulIe-
tin for June.
Up-:o Date Methods Being Generally Used
By Maine Farmers.

The juno board bulletin is ready fol
sending out from the agricultural depart
mcnt- 1t contains much interesting mat
ter or the farming prospects. 1t says, ir
part:
In this bulletin we have sought to
draw out the ideas of our correspondents
upon the general prospects and work OF
the farmer. and have been much pleased
| at the large number of replies which have
been received. OF course in discussing
so many questions. and those of such
wide scope, we expected to bring out
different opinions, and we believe this
discussion to be one of the best features
of our work, for by ii we form IDEAS of
the condition and prospects Of those who
are differently located and look upon
these matters from different standpoint.
The IDEAS brought out are in the main
of an encouraging nature, and Indicate
that in nearly every section of our State
many of our farmers are putting their
practice in lire with the advanced
thought of the day and are striving by
every means in their power to adapt
themselves to conditions which shall tend
to bring success.
full attention of our readers
We are firmly convinced of the wisdom
of the majority, that more live stock
should be kept, that by extending our
work. we can in many cases bring the
cost of production SO below the selling
price of our goods that a profit may be
derived from them The idea that spec
ialties should govern, with some of the
various crops needed for household and
stock raised in sufficient quantity to
fairly supply the demand for them, seems
to prevail, and appears to us to be sound
We are not convinced that there can be
an overproduction of the products of the
soil. if intelligent management is used
in their production and disposal.
The cautions thrown out against the
waste of farm fertilizers. and their neces-
sity for success upon our farms, are to
the point and should be needed by all.
The general idea that commercial fertili-
GERS are used TO best advantage in con-
nection with farm manures, agrees with
our experience and with the general
practice Of our best farmers.
The conditions of our grass fields, as
indicated by the May bulletin. was
was claimed that they were not as good,
but 1t will be seen that a careful sum
mary of the large number of replies of
this month place it quite an amount
above last month, except in Aroostook
and Sagadahoc counties. We therefore
infer from this, as well as from the re-
marks of several correspondents, that
the damage by winter killing was net
so extensive as some have supposedly
The inquiries sent out covered the grass
field conditions of pastures, enumeration
of stock, condition of fruit trees crops,
hay, etc.
S The average for the State is as follows:
Condition of grass fields. 1903 per cent;
pastures. l0i per cent. Amount of young
stock turned to pasture: colts, s6 per
cent; young cattle. So per cent; sheep,
81 per cent. Blossom of fruit trees;
apples, e. per cent; piums, IS per cent;
Strawberries IS per cent: other small
fruits. 81 per cent. Acreage in potatoes,
IS per cent; corn, 80 per cent Amount of
hay, 70 per cent.
The returns for kennebee. Sagadalloc
and Somerset countess are as follows:
Kennobec--Condition of grass fields, lis
per cent; pastures H. per cent. Amount
of young stock turned to pasture: colts.
50 per cent: young cattle IS per cent;
sheep Sc per cent. Blossom of fruit
trees: apples. Is per cent? plums, 81 per
cent; strawberries, 81 per cent: other
smail fruits. ~ per cent. Varieties OF APP
pies blossoming most fully: Greetings,
Ben Davis, Northern Spy, Belletleurs.
Acreage in potatoes. so per cent; corn,
~ per cent. Amount of hay, 60 per cent.
SAGADAHOC- Condition OF grass
fields IS per cent: pastures. IA per cent
Amount of young stock turned to past
ure: colts, 50 per cent: young cattle, 100
per cent: sheep, So per cent. Blossom OF
fruit trees: apples, 50 per cent; plums,
100 per cent: Strawberries. q per cent;
other small fruits 81 per cent. Varieties
of apples blossoming most fully: fall
fruit Greetings. Acreage in potatoes, 81
per cent: corn. 100 per cent. Amount of
hay, 81 per cent.
SCMERSET-rond of grass fields,
107 per cent; pastures, q per cent.
Amount of young stock turned TO past
ure: colts, 81 per cent. young cattle, iV2
per cent; sheep. 81 per cent. Blossom of
fruit trees: apples. 80 per cent; plums,
6S per cent; Strawberries. s. per cent;
other small fruits. 90 per cent. Varieties
of apples bossoming most fully: Ouch
ass. Ben Davis, Baldwin. Acreage in po-
tatoes. 50 per cent: corn. 10 per cent
Amount of hay, 6S per cent