Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-11
CROP PROSPECTS.
Encouraging Predictions from
An Agricultural Expert.
The Conditions Are Not So Bad As
May Be Imagined.
Nature Repairs Her Losses, However
Bad, Very Rapidly.

Bangor, Me-, June 1O.-The Bangor
Commercial, tonight, contains the fol-
lowing editorial regarding the crop
prospects at this time:
notwithstanding the extremely I'M
favorable weather conditions of the
past eight or ten weeks, so unusual at
this very early period of the growing
year, the Commercial has never taken
the extremely doleful view of the situa-
ton as that which has been expressed
by many newspapers and press report
crs. We have believed, all through the
past two weeks of unusual loss and
great anxiety, that the actual condition
was not as bad as represented despite
the fearful destruction of forests, crops
ana property.
There is this thing that has always
given us hope-nature repairs her
losses very rapidly. No matter how
badly she may have been ravished, how
great may have been the losses by flood
and fire, and frost, she RECEIVERS at
most rapid pace when conditions again
assume their normal status. This is
why. as the Commercial said in an
editorial of Monday, that we pinned our
IL
year upon the conditions prevalent on
June 10. Before that date the cOndi-
tons changed for the better. The rain
came in good volume, not as much as
the earth would have welcomed, but
sufficient to stop the fires, prevent the
crops from drying up and start them
on their period of growth. With fav-
orable conditions from now on-which
a. 1,nli
Maine farmers will have better sea-
son than has been feared during the
prevalence of the drought.
so far as the hay crop is concerned
all farmers will agree that with favor
able conditions through June, we may
look for Il medium crop. We have
known grass to promise good yield OF
hay the middle or last of May and have
known that promise to be unfulfilled by
n sharp drought in the middle or last
of June. At that period drought of
10 DAYS or two weeks duration will
cause the yield to shrink from a third
to onc-haf. Having had an unusual
drought for the past two months it is
reasonable, now that the climatic con-
dtions have changed for the better. for
us to expect favorable weather. with
the prevalence of such weather from
now to July 10, we have faith to be-
lcvc that Maine farmers will secure
yield of hay that will rank as an aver
age croc.
Now in regard to other staple products
of our Maine farms. 1t may be said,
what is wen known by all farmers, that
hood crops cannot recover from a drought
at this time of the year so rapidly as
la, I,t, in n
and August we have known of periods OF
drought as severe and as long continued
as that we have experienced the present
:;rrinE. But corn, grain and potatoes htd
then obtained such growth That the
Ground was well shaded. excessive crap-
CITATION WAS prevented and growth was not
seriously impc,lcd. Maturity was more
tnr,ly and tho crops were lighter in cNnHe-
a!cncc but they were not ruined. Old
farmers used to say that although corn
leaves would roll up from drought in tn
daytime. if they came out straight and
Hat by the dampncss of night the CROP
would grow and mature. But when the
drought became so severe that the role !
M leaves would not come out at nlSht II
was time for anxiety.
This spring the case is different In
many cases corn did not come up on
account of the drought when it did it was
in many cases cut by tn" frCst and where
not the plants wore 50 small and tender
that the excessive heat nearly consumed
thom 1t remains to he seen what such
crops will do now that rain has come
That they Will recover quit" rapidly w"
are sure. But on high ground in good CON
,Iilion it will not I've tod late to plant corn
by Juno T.. and with Il good year and tn"
holding off of fall froStS. as Is many
times the case, expect Il fair crop next
scpt"mhcr.
''ThcrC is much satisfaction To be taken
in view of the present condition of wealth
or and crops Everything is promising
for grass. corn. potatoes and carly SuW"d
grain. Even now it is not too lat" to put
for forage crops and turnips. Max" the
best of the situation, farmers of Moline,
and go right ahead with your plans"