Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-07
oa,ly llsnnsbee Journal
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
CROP PROSPECTS.
n. SEASONS Outlook Tor the Busy Farmers Of
Maine.

VII. Maine Farmer presents special
,,, returns gathered from all por-
.,ors Of Maine. giving the prevailing
conditions to June Sd.
The season for early planting has
,.on more favorable in eastern than
,,sstern Maine. and Aroostook and
washington county farmers have i'm
,roved the opportunity to put in an
casually large quantity of seed. In
a.. central and western portions there
!. some complaint Of early-planteds seed
rotting but a great many fields re-
,ooin waiting fair weather before be-
inc finally worked for hoed crops or
Grain. Low grass lands in the west
ern nortions are either under water or
co wet as to check growth. The gem
oral promise of large hay crop must
rest on coming days. as the growth
thus far is tall. but necessarily lack
ING body. thickness and quality. A
warm. dry June will give us good
hay crop.
Fruit trees in nearly every locality
have blossomed abundantly, but there
is reason to fear that the moist wealth
or. while in full bloom, has prevented
that free distribution of the pollen
necessary for complete fcrtil.zatio
and full harvest. Pastures are in
fine condition. wanting only the sun
to give quality to the abundant
growth. Considering the short hay
crop Of 1900. stock has wintered re-
markably we'll and the number has
not been reduced as much as was pre-
most promising feature is the inter-
est being directed to the breeding of
pure blood stock and the large num-
Der Of purchases made from the most
noted breeders of this country and
Canada. Not only is this manifest
in the dairy classes-the Jersey.
Guernsey and Holsteins-but there is
also increased activity among the
breeders of Shorthorns and Herefords
Horse breeding. which has been so
much neglected for the past ten years,
is this year assuming oldtime proper
items. more particularly along the line
of the road horse of size, substance and
courage. The poultry industry is
making rapid strides in New England
and this year will witness Il decided
ers grown. AS this is one OF the
most profitable of all our agricultural
industries, the outlook is one pleasant
u contemplate. The increase of flocks
of sheep is confined to altogether too
limited an area. This should be one Of
the leading branches of our farm in
dustry.
The demand for pork has awakened
fresh interest in those breeds best
adapted to the farmers of Maine and
fresh importations of choice Berk-
shires, Poland Chinas, Chesters and
TamwOrths have been made by en-
thusastic breeders in different locali-
ties
That dairying and stock growing
are to rapidly increase may be deter
mined by the increased acreage in
corn, hungarian and other supplement
tary crops, and especially by the
number of silos being built or con-
tracted for this year. The building
and filing of these insures such saw
ing in the purchase of Western grain
mat it forms one of the most cOnspic-
uous items in the outlook for 1901.
another item not to be overlooked is
the largely increased sale of separatOrs
OF all standard makes, a fact pointing
with certainty to larger herds. better
qualty of stock and n finer and more
uniform dairy product.
mus far the reports of insect pests
are confined to very limited district.
Out there is ample evidence that pre-
cautlonary steps have more generally
DSpn taken th1 in, nd
mat the spraying of fruit trees and
use Oh agents to destroy potato bugs
VIII be resorted to more than ever.
win favorable conditions prevail
ing IN juno the sanguine expectations
vi the farmers Of Maine may be real
lied.