Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-08-24
MAINE FARMS.
.uN11AL REPORT OF COMMITS
stoNER OF AdRICULTURE.
.,,nrr1oSs ON THE WHOLE ARE GOOD
.,au TELEPHONES ENORMOUS
ACREAGE IN POTATOES.

an. il net at all strange. Were II other
-. mare would be every reason for sur
u,,.s These reports are very carefully
..,nsrod. and contain much which is OF
$50, interest to the agriculturist.
Commissioner Gilman spares no effort
:. make his annual of value and In the
ore which is just out has surpassed his
urey,ous attempt. The report just issued
=. "a, 1903 and in 1t Mr.. Gilman says:
aIa presenting this report 1t gives me
nlesssre to state that the past year has
been generally prosperous for the egri-
cul,ufe Of Maine, and the outlook for
AGRICULTURAL advancement and prosperity
IN this slste was never brighter than IL Is
to.dsy. The farmers are taking new in
tsrest in their work.
wThe crops that have been raised have
hrops bit remunerative prices and the mar
kat has been good. The acreage Of tillags
land is being increased and given more
attention, and the farms are being made
more productive.
r.. p. d. AND TELEPHONE.
"rhe free rural mali delivery snd the
farm telephone which have reached so
many of the farm homes during the past
year have added much to the dosirability
OF farm life and the sociability Of every
community.
"Where all the farmers OF section have
combined ia establishing the telephone 1t
has been meaRre expense, and the bene-
fits that are derived from II, socially and
financially, are beyond estimation. On
OF the especially attractive features o
the telephone system in farming COM
munity, Is the soeisbiiity that the
farmers have among themselves, with
prac.jcally no expense.
"with the daily paper left at the door
snd the telephone for communication
With the neIghborhood and the town or
city, tho barrier OF isolation has been re-
moved, and the rural people are being
brought In close touch with large centres.
Farmers have had serious obstacles to
confront during the past season, and In
some sections the effects OF drought, frost
and continued cold have not been over
come and the income OF the farm has not
equalled that OF former years, but we
believe that on the whole the products of
the farm have not fallen below the aver
age, and with the good prices which have
been maintained, the returns received
have been quite satisfactory.
''The hay crop, which was so seriously
threatened by the early drought, reeov-
cred, to an almost remarkable extent un-
der the favorable conditions late In the
season. The corn crop In many places
was practically failure, but the farmers
OF Maine are not discouraged. Although
for the past two seasons the crop has not
been complete success, we still believe
in corn culture.
"We cannot afford to abandon the great
sweet corn industry; also, with increased
dairying siios must increase, and 1t has
nently the crop for the silo, that no crop
can take its place for any length of time
for that purpose. 1t is our opinion that
corn In average years Is a safe, profitable
crop for Maine farmers to raise.
MAINE APPLES.
while the apple crop throughout the
State hardly reached an average the yield
In many sections was much greater than
In former years, and larger income viii
be derived from the apple crop of 1903
than was anticipated by the most san
gnine apple producers. We believea care
full estimate OF the apples exported would
not fall short of LOCO, 600 barrels.
This crop has been receiving move at
tention than formerly, the orchard acre.
age has been largely increased during the
past year, and fruit growers are giving
their trees better care. An increased per
cent. of the orchards are under euitiva-
tion. The farmers have found that II is
quite as profitable to fertilize and spray
the orchard as any of their hoed crops.
THE POTATO.
"Fhe potato crop OF the State was the
largest for years. Potatoes are bringing a
goos price, and indications warrant US
In making the assertion that the amount
received by the producers this year will
be far above the average. An increased
interest In this crop has been noted dur.
ing the past year.
mot only has the crop in Aroostook
county been such as 10 awaken new inter
esi, but some Of our practical, wide-awak
farmers In the central and southern por-
tions OF the State have demonstrated
that the soil in these sections, with the
aid oil commercial fertilizers and proper
cultivation, can be made to produce po-
tatoes equal in quantity and quality to
those produced In the more favored
northern section.
Their success has stimulated others to
an enlarged production, and the indica-
lions are that the acreage OF potatoes
planted In Maine In 1904 will exceed that
for many years.
although profitable returns from this
eiop are not always assured, yet with
thorough cultivation, continued we'll into
the SESSION, and early and frequent spray
h -