Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-01-23
AGRICULTURE. 7
ANNUAL REPORT OF STATE
SECRETARY M'KEEN.
WORK OF THE BOARD DURING THE
FAST YEAR - EXPENSE OF
WORK, ss,6os.42.

agriculture is very comprehensive re-
view az this work OF the board during the
past year and gives an IDEA OF the Inn
mense amount Of labor performed In the
interests of the agricultural class Of the
state. The following Is an abstract OF the
report which was read before the beard
last week:
The work Of the board has eontInued along
about the usual lines during the past year.
believe that there has been moro inirfeet mani.
tested by the people Of the State than ever be-
fore and that tho farmers sre more and more
working along the lines indicated by the best
Thought of the tines, The crops have teen
more diversified and as a rule The farms are
becoming more selfsupporsing. More aiicn-
tion Ia being paid 10 advanced methods along
all lines, and thought Is rapidly taxing the place
Of manual labor.
The crops for 1900 WERE as rule, very satis-
factory Another severe drought In the south
ern and western sections OF the state Materially
reduced the may crop. The value of the suppis-
mental crop and The silo Is forced home to our
cattle feeders more each year. aud from corrc-
spondenee which reaches the Office ! arr In
clined To tbs opinion thai more attention viii be
given both these arIicles the coming season.
An abundant fruii crop brings much money
10 the farmers OF Maine. I append the report
Of our special correspondents, xiviag the aver
ages OF our primo pal crops, aud as they again
correspond closely with tho reports OF the cor
respondents for the United statss department.
Of agriculture. which are from entirely df.
feren. source, believe them 10 be fairiy cor.
rect. The general average Is as folicws
Quantity of apples, us per cent; quality. ioT
per cent Proportion OF winter varieties, 81 per
cent. Forty per csnt. OF thu apple crop viii BIO
shipped az once. Yield OF potatoes, les bushels.
Yield of yellow cora, Is bushels; sweet. AGO
pounds. Eighty six per cent. of yoang stock
will he winterei. Condition OF grass fields, 81
per cent.
We have se6s horses in the state valued for
taxation, q on, $50 While there Is n slight de.
crease In the number from lssa. there Is an In
crease In valne of ssI,coa. There appears TO be
a steady decrease In the humber of colts raised
each year.
There is bat q sight decrease In the number
OF cow. hat their value has increased ss.ss.
lis.v &, suil aa Increase 10 the number of
oxen, bni IL would appear that the iarse gala in
oue. two and thrcc.y ear-olds would show that
more steers AZ well as heifers were Gelng raised.
There has teen Il slight falling on In the num-
Der OF sheep aud ssiue.
The esiuase'i total value OF poultry and eggs
produced In isss. as reported to the state asses
sors " sl,t,s5ssn.
Tho total value OF live stock for taxation Is
sis.sg7sG.
The dairy interests of our state are demand
Ing more and more of the attention Of our pco-
pie, TIE scar just past has been phenomenal
IL the advances made along ihese iines- There
seems 10 be a constantly Increasing demand for
goods well made, dairy butter nj remaaerstive
prices. and creamery butter making Is eontin-
uaiiy being extended. Tho market calls for all
dairy pi oducgs at prices above these reached In
any year for long time. and there appears to
be no danger Of any over production OF this
elass of goods. Maine still stands far ahead OF
any other state In the reputation OF her sweet
cream. and it dads us way into nearly every
New England eity.
During the agitation over the passage OF the
Grout bill which Is thought TO be of greater i'm
porianee TO our dairy interests than any iegis
iation which has preceded H. this Office has
been In frequent correspondence with our dele
cation 10 Congress. and II IS with pleasure that
I reooni the fact that all Of our Representatives
heartily supported the bill. and that have let
tors from both our senator's. saying they shall
use their best efforts TO secure It's passage In the
Senate.
The report contains plea for a greater
Interest in the production OF beef on our
Maine farms and spesks exhaustiyeiy OF
the island sheep industry of our coast
counties. These sheep are OF extra fine
quality for eating purposes and the report
says there is no climate better adapted to
sheep growing than that OF the islands
along the Maine coast.
Mr. Mckeen believes the time has come
when more attention should be given to
the Maine horse, He says the principal
drawbacks in times past have been false
notions as to the kind OF horses best
adapted TO the pus pose required, the lack
OF good foundation stock In mares and the
speculative nature of the horse business.
All these difficulties are gradually being
eliminated Speaking of the poultry in.
dustry he says;
Efforts are now being made looking 10 the
forming of State poultry association, and The
holding OF poultry exhibitions In various sec
tons of the State. This association does not
propose to ask for any assistance financially.
but will depend upon contributions ana pledges
from those who are Interested in the movement
fer lis sappor;. The forming Of local poultry
associations is being asi.ated alec. In Houlton
steps have already been taken In this direction.
think the board should take some action on
ihese proposed measures. Ia my Judgment
iie industry Is of great Importance TO our state.
The work of the agricultural societies has
been Of high order as far as have been able
to learn and the fairs have been. az a rule, sue
cessful and free from Objectionable features.
While the multiplication OF these societies be-
yond reasonable numbers should be siiscour
aged, and while one strong society is worth
more than many weak ones. l believe the,
should be placed In such sections a. to beet ae.
eommodate the greatest number OF people, and
thereby accomplish The best resuIts.
The following figures win show the amount Of
business done by these societies;
Number Of horses and colts exhibited, gaz
Number of meat cattle exhibited. gs7s
Number of sheep exhibited, ,eIa
Number of swine exhibited. -,