Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-06
POTATOES.

increase.
POTATOES
The experience of last year caused I'M
usual 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
lessons, 1.-THE breadth planted was sonnet
whaf increased over any previous year
1t is still too early to fully forecast re-
suits in that county. Up to the present
time however, the condition is favorable
for fun crop. In all other parts of the
State the first early crop IS now ripe ana
quite a measure of il has gone to mar
ket Ing sharp drought the first Of July
was unfavorable to the growth of tubers
and the yield of these early potatoes no
more than medium. The recent rains
were timely and the general crop is now
all right for a full yield. As a rule the
crop was early planted and on this ac-
count the blighting rust is not 50 likely
to seize it before the crop is made The
potato bug has been on hand as usual
but SO we'll attended TO that little dam
age 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 I'M
favorab BILE. Much of the seed did not come
and this is always fatal to a full crop.
July conditions, however. have been ia
vorable and repaired a measure of the
rV I.l N
average but not an extra crop.
FRUIT.
Much interest conferred in the orchards
this season. Early observations among
the trees showed general failure of this
important crop in our State. Later cor
respondence reveals no Improvement in
the outlook. There is some fruit on some
trees in certain localities. This plainly
expresses the situation. Throughout the
principal fruit producing sections Of the
State, as we have before shown the crop
will be light in the extreme and of infe-
rior quality. In such great fruit producing
towns as Turner, Greene. Monmouth
Winthrop, Readfield and Belgrade. there
is not an eighth of full crop. In acres
on acres of the orchards in those towns
not an apple will be harvested Piscata-
quis county is somewhat better off but in
any case does not produce enough to be
of any considerable commercial import
ance. Aroostook's condition is still better
but that county never produces Il supply
for home use. All over the State limited
orchards may be found bearing a moder-
ate 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 abund-
ant. and far above the needs of the stock.
The sharp drought of July did not cut
short the supply to any appreciaDle ex-
tent, so luxuriant was the growth. The
situation has now been relieved by rain
so that the present bounty of feed prom
ises to hold throughout the season. As a
result, cows and stock Of all kinds have
done unusually well. There is no other
feed so cheap nor SO good as grass, hence
the abundance in this direction is of vast
Importance to the stock owners of our
State.
SMALL FRUITS.
The early strawberry crop was abund-
ant and fairly good prices prevailed.
Growers were favored with good weather
for picking throughout. This crop is on
the increase in our State and thousands
of families are enjoying the luxury Of
this first fruit of summer.
Raspberries and blackberries are in
short supply. The canes were badly
killed in winter and the drought has re-
duced the size.
PRICES.
a general advance in price of all the
sale products of the farm has been real