Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-17
Oa''E keIlNeOeC 3Ournal.
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
AGRICULTURE,
Secretary Mckeen's Annual
Report to the Board.
Inc Work Of the Board During the
Past Year.
Expense Of Years Work S3.6Oa.42. Covered
BY Appropriation.

the immense amount of labor per-
formed in the interests of the agricul-
turai class of the State The following
is an abstract of the report which was
read before the board, Wednesday
afternoon:
Mr.. President and Members OF the
Board:
The work of the Board has continued
along about the usual lines during the
past year. l believe that there has
been more interest manifested by the
people of the State than ever before,
and that the farmers are more and
more working along the lines indicated
by the best thought of the times. The
crops have been more diversified, and
as rule the farms are becoming more
self-SupportinS. More attention is be
ing paid to advanced methods along
all lines, and thought is rapidly taking
the place of manual labor.
The crops for 1900 We're, as q rule,
very satisfactory. Another severe
drought in the southern and western
sections of the State materially re-
duced the hay cop, so much WAS this
the case that III many instances farm
ers are at pres, 1t forced to buy hay
in order to III intain their usual
amount of sto,.l and keep in the
market with TIL, =: regular business
The value of the supplemental crop
and the Slo is forced home to our
cattle feeders more each year, and
from correspondence which reaches the
office | am inclined - the opinion that
more attention VIII be given both
these articles the corning season. An
abundant fruit crop brings much
| money to the farmers Of Maine, and Il
is to be regretted that reliable in
| formation as to the fruit crop Of the
world, and the probable demand can
| not be placed before ou. farmers in
| season to be of more value to them i'll
| disposng of their fruit
| append the report of our special
| correspondents, giving the averages
of our principle crops, and as they
again correspond closely with the re-
ports of the correspondents for the
| United States Department of Agricui-
| ture which are from an entirely differ
ent source, | believe them to be fairly
correct. The general average is Il;
| follows:
Quantity of apples, 1!5 per cent:
quality, 10. per cent. Proportion Of
winter varieties. 81 per cent. Forty per
| cent of the apple crop will be shipped
at once Yield of potatoes, l2G bushels.
Yield of yellow corn. Is bushels; sweet,
2400 pounds. Eighty-SiN per cent OF
Young stock will be Wintercd. Condl-
ton of grass fields, 81 per cent.
In reporting the crop conditions for
| October from the United states crop
| Reporter, | took occasion to say we
are pleased to note the very favorable
condition of the fruit market, both at
home and abroad We trust that
| Maine fruit growers who have winter
APPLES to dispose Of will not rush them
| upOn the market. but Will store them
! for later shipment. There can be no
doubt but that carefully selected WIN
ter fruit will bring good price before
| the season is over.
| We have rs. 666 horses in the state
valued for taxation CO.'S. 500. While
there is a slight decrease in the num-
her from 1899. there is an increase in
value of S21 .OO2 From the recorded
rumber of three, two and one year old
colts there appears to be a steady de-
crease in the number of colts raised
| each year.
| There is but a slight increase IN the
number of cows. but their value too
has increased $S.616.
| There is still an increase in the num-
her of oxen. but it would appear that
the large gain in one, two ana thret
wear olds would show that more steers
as wei! as heifers were being raised.
There has been q slight falling OIL IN
the number of sheep and swine.
The estimated total value of poultry
and eggs produced in 1895 as reporter
10 the state assessors is 1,4lS.'S
The total value of live stock Tor TAX
ton is $12,347 SAT.
The dairy interests Of our State are
demanding more and more OF the IL
tontion of our people. The year Just
past las been phenomenal IN the Az
yanres made along these lines. lhei
seems to be constantly lncfeaSiis
demand for goods well made, oalrs
! but:er at renunerative prices, dnu
creamery butter making is contihuahS
being extended. The market calls ioi
all dairy products at prices ABOVE
those reached in any year for a lohS
time. and there appears to be no can
acr of any over-production OF tliis
class of goods. Maine still stands lar
ahead of any other State in the repu-
tatjon of her sweet cream, ana IL nii''7
its way into nearly every Ne" r1hs
land city.
During the agitation over the "a,
sare of the Grout Bill which is though
tc be of greater importance 10 ou
| dairy interests than any leslsiaeno'
which has preceded it, this oiil.e
has been in frequent correspondent,
with our delegation in Congress. anu
it is with pleasure that | recoru ~
fact that all of our repreSehtan
, heartily supported the bill. ana 'i,a'
have letters from both our Seiih'oi =
saying they shall use their best
forts to secure it's passage in the Seii'it.
Several indictments for the hie %
+ sale of cleo have been obtained uui -
the year and there are two cases ~
pending. We doubt if there Is h'ue.
sold at the present time contrary ~
State law. The United States au',
ties are very active. and but
business is done without pih's>
/ states license and there is Dut
such license at the present time III W.