The Portland daily press., 1898-08-05
MAINE DROPS.
What Correspondents of the Maine Farm
Report About Them,

what correspondents u tho N1dIue al III
REPORT About Them,
Below we are able to present carefully
prepared report for the condition and
quality of the crops harvested, as well as
those maturing, also the stock outlook
at the present time from all parts OF
Maine, especially prepared for the Maine
Farmer.
On cae first of August the season is SO
far advanced in Maine as to enable one
to forecast the full harvests of the year
with reliable accuracy, barring only I'M
foreseen casualties with later crops. We
are now pleased to make the record that in
the main she farmers of our State, in
common with other localities. are realiz-
ing bountiful reward for the labors OF
the year.
HAY.
The hay harvest just completed was
ever produced in the State. The plentiful
rains of last year, continued through the
season, made u thick and heavy stand of
grass, while the blanket of snow covering
the ground through the winter and clear
up to opening spring protected the grass
in its full strength and perfection. Again
through the spring and early summer,
conditions favored its growth. Clover of
all kinds abounded in every direction.
The season will long be noted as the
clover year. Lastly. the weather for the
harvest was perfection until the priuci pal
rt Of no ofalry
This combination of favorable conditions
has filled the barns Of Maine to fullness.
At this first day of August only few
belated fields are left uncut.
GRAIN.
The early spring being favorable for
farm work, larger area of grain than
usual was sown. In Aroostok county the
great bulk of this was wheat, but in all
other parts of the State oats. barley, and
cats and peas mixed were the principal
grains sown. The earlier sown grain is
now nearly ready for the harvest, while
the remainder is sufficiently advanced to
insure full crop. III over the State the
grain is we'll filled and will yield a heavy
harvest. The growth of straw is not SO
rank as to badly lodge, while it is heavily
headed and will yield abundantly. Most
of this will be threshed and make a saw
ing in the growers grain bill that will
be sensibly felt. There is a growing ten
dency among farmers to increase their
grain production, and the bountiful har-
vest of the present season will without
doubt have the effect to stimulate further
increase.
POTATOES.
The experience of last year caused I'M
usal interest in the potato crop. About
the usual average area was devoted to
this crop in all parts of the State save in
Aroostook, where in spite of former les
sons, the breadth planted was somewhat
increased over any previous year. 1t is
still too early to fully forecast the results
in that county. Up to the pres snt time.
however the condition is favorable for a
full crop In all other parts of the State
the first early crop is now ripe and quite
a measure of it has gone to market. The
sharp drought the first of July was I'M
favorable to the growth of tubers and tbs
yield of these early POTATOES no more
than medium. The recent rains were
timely and the general crop was early
planted, and on this account the blight
ing rust not SO likely to seize it before
the crop is made. The potato bug" has
been on hand as usual, but SO we'll at
tended to that little damage results from
his presence.
CORN.
For some reason corn does not present
the uniform and promising condition OF
other farm crops The wet weather the
last of May and first of June was unfa-
yorable. Much of the seed did not come,
and this is always fatal to full crop.
July conditions, however have been IA
vorable and repaired measure OF the
early damage The promise now is for
an average, but not an extra crop.
FRUIT.
Much Interest centered in the orchards
this season. Early observations among
the trees showed general failure of this
important crop in our State. Later cor
Jespondence reveals no improvement in
the outlook. There is some fruit on
some trees in certain localities This
plainly expresses the situation. Through
out the principal fruit producing sections
of the State, as we have before shown the
crop will be light in the extr eme, and of
inferior quality. In such great fruit pro-
duclng towns as turner, jreene, Mon
mouth Winthrop, Readfield and Bel
grade, there is not an eighth of full
crop. In acres on acres of the orchards in
those towns not an apple will be har.
vested. .Piscataquis county is somewhat
better off, but in any case does not pro-
duce enough to be of any considerable
commercial Importance. Aroostook IS
condition is still better, but that county
never produces a supply for home use
All over the State limited orchards may
be found bearing a moderate crop Of
fruit, but such cases are rare and the
trees few.
PASTURAGE
Feed in the pastures, in common with
the grass in the fields, has been abundant,
and far above the needs of the stock. The
sharp drought of July did not cut short
the supply to any appreciable extent, SO
luxuriant was the growth. The situa-
ton has now been relieved by rain, SO
that the present bounty of feed promises
to hold throughout the season. AS re-
suit cows and stock of all kinds have
done unusually well. There is no other
feed so cheap nor so good as grass, hence