Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-18
Report Of Maine Cond-
tions in 1904.
Third Annual Report Prepared
BY Commissioner 4. ". Gln a
Great Dairy IntsIssis.-A Fairs.-42 lRst.
iutts-.Ytar's Fine Crops.


our State The agricultural interest:
of Maine are among the foremost inter
ests Of the State. In the year 1903 W.
harvested l,2i0, go tons OF hay. ana IN
amount Of grain and potatoes raised
approxinated 24,00O,OO0 bushels. NOR
than II OOo. OOo bushels Of potatoes were
raised in that year, the crop being eX'
ce.,,ed by that Of only of three states II
the Union.-New York, pennsylvania
and .Lichigan. The crop of 1904 was
still larger, reaching nearly 2O.0o0,W'
bushels. The estimated value of the
livestock on April /. 1904, was s14, 1856 OG2
ant. the annual dairy products of the
state alone are valued at nearly ten
million dollars.
We are glad to note an awake
nIng of interest in agricultural OPP
rrations, and believe that lii'eie9,
needs 10 be still iur'.iel
aroused. The time seems 10 nc ii'o
for il widening of agricultural eiioi =
our farmers should employ an tlle iil'
chinery available, 10 increase tlie oul-
nut OF the farm and decrease the COST
of production. We have ehdeaEoreu 10
innr.ss upon them at our farmers in
s,itutcs thar they should see That every
acre of the farm is doing its utmost.
The farming should be made intensive
fret and afterwards extensive as far
-, Two farmer is able 10 extend his OPP
erations 10 advantage. Each lndiVld-
nal farmer should study his own SIT
u,,io,, and use Us much capital. ma
chinery. commercial fertilizers and labor
40 he believes can be proiitably in
vested. 10 increase his income and add
70 the fertility of his acres, making
them more rich in available plant food
A careful study of the nature Of the
soils should be made in reference to the
particular crops for which they are
hest adaut,d. and also of the require
ments Of those crops in regard to cui-
ture and plant food, in order to grow
them mtensively.
Most Of the crops during the past
season yielded an abundant harvest.
TIL. hay crep was fully up to the aver
age and of good quality. A large yield
Of potatoes of excellent quality was Sc
cured. and they are not affected by rot
Ia any great extent. 1t has been dem
onstrtted that potato culture can be
carried on as profitably and successful
~ in The central portions of the state
as in the northern portions. tx
detrimental fields that have been raised
under our observation warrant
the above statement. The sea-
son was not very favorable 70!
the corn crop. 1t being
partial failure in many sections. O1
late years corn has been an uncertain
g Ia; lcCAllnf
of IN. cold seasons, but We believe that
IL Is one of the valuable crops, ana
farmers should by no means be dis
cOlraged in the raising of corn. Corn
is King. If II does not fully develop
IL Is worth al that it costs for green 100
dor Their. Is q difference Of opinion
among the farmers Of the State in re-
gard to the best method Of curing TINS
crop. The majority, however, II they
have large fields, have adopted the sys-
tom OF cutting it for the silo. II Is
easily harvested in this manner. is al
WAYS relished by the stock, and is the
most desirable and cheap succulent
food that we can furnish them for VIM
ter feed.
A good crop Of apples was harvested.
These were usually Of good color ana
keeping qualities. but of small size.
The low prices of many farm products
during the fall and winter have been q
source OF disbursement to some
farmers; but the farmer who Keeps
persistently on his course, raising pro-
ducts Of the best quality. and carefuiiy
studying economy in production. VIII
find that there VIII always be Market
for his products and that. taking one
YEAR with another, he will realize a sat
isfactory income.
Hon. A. w. Gilman has submitted IN
the Governor and Executive Council
his third annual report as Commission
or of Agriculture of the State OF Name
for the year 1904. The text Oh the re-
pert is as follows:
During the past season our attehtioh
WIS called 10 new menace 10 oul
orchard interests in the form OF Una I
dang. rous pest. thu nrONn-tail nfol1.
Early III the spring a letter was re-
,-eil,d from Clarence NJ. Weed, state
Nursery Inspector of New Hampshire.
stating that one Of his deputies hai
found that this insect rad passed over
two small pear orchards in that FOWL
w. Immediately wrote 10 the director
of the Experiment Station at Oron"'
asking that q competent entomoiosist
be sent 10 investigate the matter
Early in April Miss Edith M. Patch.
entolnologist for the Station, Visl'@'
Kttery and vicinity and reported mat
the gnal, pear orchards ana scattering
pear trees in the village were Daaiy III
tested with winter nests Of the bro"n-
tail moth. Nests were also to be founh,
10 some extent, on cultivated ana whl
cherry trees in the Vicinity. elms along
the street and apple trees. Inc ~
Tested district. rs far rs she was ape
Ia judge. could be enclosed In an area
81 one-half mile square. AFTER con-
sultatinn with the Pathological society
and with their corporation, the ih''-
ter was presented to the Governor ana
Council and authority was given 10 tho
Commissioned of Agriculture TO use
such means Cor the destruction OF me
pest as the emergency seemed To uc-
mand. The services of Mr.. U. n.
Thompson. deputy nursery Inspector OF
New Hampshire. were secured. NJ.