Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-15
STATE HOUSE.
Better Farm Conditions Shown
by Agricultural Bulletin.
Togus Railroad Articles of Association
Approved by Commissioners.
Commissio.ef Matthews Interested in the Ship
Building Conditions.

|
are made from the bulletin advance
| sheets:
THE returns from our correspon-
| dents, this month, are very full and
| we believe accurate. The matter Of
| thorough tillage is demanding the at
tention of our farmers more than for
merly and, with the advent of new
weeds. has come a more complete cul-
tivation of the soil which renders the
latent plant food soluble and places it
! in a condition 50 that the plants can
| live upon it. There are no unmixcti
| evils and 50 we find that the weed
| pest has indirectly led to practices
| that have developed the capacities of
| the soil to n considerable degree. The
| appearance of new weeds in any local
| ity is usually due to some specific
| cause.
| "Ararn% tho new weeds mentioned
| w or CORE sp0ndcnts are the orange
| haWkWced. which may be subdued by
| clean culture where it is practicable.
| and may be killed also by the appli-
| cation of salt. dry, at the rate of IS
| pounds to the square rod or one and
| one half tons per acre: the wild mus
| tard in its different varieties. which
may be eradicated by careful cultiva-
| ton in hOed crops and by close moving
of grass fields: the black mustard
which bears the darker yellow blossom
and may come in clover seed or Hun
garian: the kale or charlock, which has
a lighter blossom and may come in
oats. barley or other grain; the king
devil weed. which is a near relative
If the hawkweed can be controlled in
about the same way. being fully as
dangerous a weed. however: the even
ing primrose. which being a biennial
may be controlled by stopping it from
seeding for one season; and the dande-
lion. which yields to cultivation in
hOcd crops. but must be removed by
the spade in lawns or gardens.
Most of our correspondents appear
to think that even with the advent Of
the newer weeds. they are more easily
controlled. where farmers are pains
taking. than formerly. because of the
use of improved tillage implements.
The sentiment is almost unanimous
that a weed law would be imperative.
although some think the careful farm
er should be protected in some way
against his careless neighbor. A few
nual loss by weeds at from 10 to SO per
cent. of the crop. The best means for
combating nearly all weeds in the
nearly unanimous opinion of the writ
ers. is by frequent shallow cultivation
of hoed crops and by level culture.
The weeder forms an important nipple
ment in the work. But a small num-
Der Of new weeds are mentioned, and
these do not appear to be rapidly
spreading.
"Kennebec cOunty-CondltlonS OF
grass fields, very good, except in few
instances: very little Winter-kllllng eX-
cent on low and newly seeded land.
Glover has wintered well in most sec
tions. Season several days later than
last year in many localities. Acreage
Of grain. 1o3 per cent. Condition OF
fruit trees, lis per cent. Condition OF
plum trees and other small fruits. III
per cent. Local market prices: Hay.
1899 IS 90: 1900 $120 potatoes, 1899. ~
cents 1900. 81 cents; cream, lS99. ~
cents. 1900. q cents; apples, 1899 So
1900. 1897; poultry, 1899, j. cents. l9oo'
13 cents: eggs. 1899. II cents, 1900, Il
cents: butter, 1899, II cents, 1900. IL
cents: COWS, 1899. $33, 1900. $34: sheep.
| 1899. 81. 20 1900. 50 so; wool, 1899, 10 cents,
| 1900. p cents
| Somerset cOunty-Conditfon of grass
| fields very good; no winter-killing II
| any amount. Clover has wintered well.
Season n little earlier than last year in
| most parts. Acreage Of grain, 1O1 per
| cent. Condition of fruit trees. 115 per
| cent. Condition Of plum trees and
other small fruit. 103 per cent. Local
market prices: Hay. 1899, $500, l9oo'
SO 90: potatoes. 1899. SO cents. 1900,
40 cents; cream. 1899, 10 cents, 1900, II
cents: apples. 1899. $3.50. 1900. 800
| poultry, 1899. IL cents, 1900. IL cents;
eggs. 1899. u cents. 1900. 10 cents; but
| ter 1899 Il cents. 1900, IS cents: cows,
1899. s37, 1900, $50: sheep. 1899, $500, 1900,
So. 30: wool. 1899. 10 cents. 1909 % cents;
horses. 1899. 800, 1900 Sis; beans, 1899,
$3.50. 1900. $2.25.
| General average for the State-Con-
] dition of grass fields. generally good;
| but little winter-killing reported from
| most counties. Glover has wintered
fairly well in most sections of the
| State. Season about the same as last
year. Condition Of fruit trees, 122 per
| cent. Condition of plum trees ana
other small fruits. 1O5 per cent. Local
market prices: Hay, 1899. $S.25, 1900.
sI2.OO; potaties. 1899. 60 cents. 1900. AZ
cents; cream, 1899, is cents, 1900, 20
| cents: apples, 1899. $40, 1900. 1926;
poultry. 1899. u cents. 1900, 12A cents;
| eggs. 1899. Il cents, 1900. II cents; but
ter. 1899. ~ cents, 1900. 20 cents: cows,
1899 s34 1900, s35; sheep, 1892 $3.50, 1900,
$3.50: wool. IS cents, 1900. % cents"
Hon. s. w. Matthews, commissioner
of industrial and labor statistics, will
probably touch on the Maine ship
building in his next annual report. He
has been watching with great deal
Of interest the increased activity in the
industry and is now almost convinced
that it should be touched on. He de-
voted a great deal of space recently to
the shpbuilding at the Bath Iron
Works and the report was read with a
! great. deal of interest and created a
great deal of favorable comment. II
he takes up the general line of ship
building he will probably go into il
more in detail than he did when he
4o,,olal IN tho SI1bippt