Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-12-06
Farm THANKSGIVING.


Farm Thanksgiving.
The old suggestion that it Is we'll tC
look over the bill of fare before saying
grace, if followed, will only add to the
American farmers enjoyment of the
Thanksgiving season this year. Thanks
giving, based upon an actual inventory
of results, is more satisfactory than sea
sonable platitudes. Our farming pOpu'
lation have always abundant ground fol
thanksgiving, and it requires no official
proclamation to remind them that their
lines are cast in pleasant places. As
citizens of country where agricultural
occupation is regarded as the noblesi
vocation of man, and of an age in which
every mechanical and social convenience
of civilization is within reach of the
rural dweller, the American farmer rec.
ognizes that he is blessed above his fel
low worker of any other land or age.
Aside from his permanent reason fol
thankfulness, he has this year especial
grounds for gratitude, for the earth has
yielded to him in fatness, and his labor
is rewarded many fold. In spite of a
season marked by contradictory ex,
tremes, a year in which nature has not
been especially kind in her meteorologi-
cal moods, by intelligent labor and
scientific utilization of opportunity
more than average crop results have
been secured. In many respects the
showing at harvest bears strong testi-
mony to the advancement in agricul-
tural skill and knowledge which has
marked the past few years, because it
emphasizes the possibility of wringing
success even though nature be niggard-
ly inclined. =.
Grass, the most valuable crop in all
agriculture when its importance as
pasturage as we'll as forageis considered,
has given an abundant yield. In the
shape of hay the government bureau
shows an average yield of 1.52 tons per
acre, against ten-year average of l.35
tons, making larger crop than in re-
cent years, and so evenly distributed as
to insure an ample forage supply in
every section. In the matter of pastur-
age the season was equally satisfactory,
there being abundant grass from early
spring until late fall, sending all classes
of farm stock into winter quarters in ex-
celleut physical condition.
Com, the greatest of arabic crops,
with an acreage equal to tho total land
surface of European principalities, after
season of doubt, makes a crop the
second largest ever grown, and OF a
quality rarely equaled. The season was
cool and backward, and the final crop
result was long in doubt, but absence of
killing frost over practically the whole
commercial belt until the last week of
October, permitted the ripening up of
even the latest planting, and the final re-
suit was an average yield of 26.s bushels
per acre against a ten-year average OF
242 bushels.
The only serious crop shortage OF the
wear developed in wheat, and was the
inevitable result of cumulative series
of unfavorable conditions extending
from the beginning of fall plowing to
the end of threshing. Drouth, severe
winter conditions, excessive spring and
early summer rainfall, blight, rust and
insect enemies combined to shorten the
crop. In spite, however, of such COM
bination as was perhaps never before
experienced, the failure was less acute
than was feared, and it is now apparent
that we have sufficient for all domestic
wants, and some grain to spare, If the
world is willing to pay the handsome
price now ruling. Careful estimates
make our export surplus at least
100. .OOO. 600 bushels, which, at ruling
values, would give larger national in
IaS
years from much larger volume OF
shipment.
The oat crop in actual volume is the
second largest on record, and in rate OF
Weld exceeds all previous showings,
with a quality the best for a series OF
wears. AS was the case with other
crops, only moderate results were ex,
pected during the growing season; out
the final test Of the thresher showed an
average of 32.l bushels per acre, against
an average for ten years of 2S.3 bushels.
Other cereals make similar showing OF
abundance.
The potato crop breaks all record both
in volume and productivity, with an
average yield of 1l0.4 bushels, against
ten-year average of 81 bushels. The
apple crop is abundant, though Ill diS'
tributed, the eastern districts having
heavy yields and the western districts
but scant. The cotton crop is of large
proportions, and bearing n price so at,
tractive as to place southern farmers in
a more independent position than they
have occupied for many years.
Taking it as whole the year has
proved one of especial abundance, and
in addition industrial conditions are Such
that practically every product OF the
farmers labor is selling at figure when
insures a fair profit for the seasons
effort.
Complete official figures of this years
results are not yet available, but the
following tabulation, in the main drawn
flom official sources, may be studied as
a ledger balance accounting for special
tb.pt fulpess upon American farms: