Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-18

agricultural pursuits.
Prices for agricultural products have
been well maintained and while the cost
of production has necessarily been high
on account of the high price of feeds
farm labor, etc, yet the intelligent. pro-
gressive farmer has been able to secure
good margin of profit. The possbili-
ties of farming, when conducted in ac-
cordance with the most approved
methods have never been more fully
realized than at present.
There is no longer a lack of progress
due to the isolation of the farmer. The
telephone and rural delivery place him
in connection with the world the agri-
cultural press, the Grange, the farmers
institutes and the many cooperative
associations which are now being
formed are keeping him in touch with
the advanced knowledge in agricultural
lines, and doing much to place his work
on a business basis. The farmer is be-
coming a man of affairs in the State and
the nation.
The yield and quality of most farm
crops was above the average. The hay
crop of the State was materially reduced
by the drought of 1909 and the preceding
season, but many of the farmers had
prepared somewhat for such an emer-
gency by the planting of supplementary
crops, both for pasturate and for winter
feeding. The dry season was also unfav
orable for the corn crop. Some of the
farmers who had selected early maturing
varieties and given their corn fields
special care and cultivation so as to pre-
fIn
fine crops. The corn crop of Maine is
receiving more attention than formerly
The acreage was above the average this
year and indications warrant us in max
ing the assertion that it will be much
larger next season.
"The acreage planted to potatoes eN-
ceeded that of any previous year and
the yield was also above the average in
most parts of the State. In Aroostook
county the unfavorable weather in the
fall caused some injury to the crop.
From the time the early varieties were
placed upon the market until the close
of the year, potatoes have brought
good price and have been profitable
crop for the farmer.
Our Fruit Interest.
The apple crop of the State was light
in most sections. There is no branch of
husbandry of 50 much Importance that
has received so little attention from the
average farmer as orcharding. More at
tention has been given of late to the
other industries, and this has not kept
pace with the changing conditions of the
times The increased number of insect
pests for the last few years has made
al Ipct
spraying. cultivating and fertilizing is
seen in all sections of the State. There
are a few orchards. however, in different
sections, that have had the best OF care
and are Welding some of the finest fruit
that is grown anywhere in this country.
"The value of organization in this IN
dustry is also beginning to be realized.
fruit growers association which has
been organized by the farmers in OXFORD
county is doing very helpful work. Steps
have already been taken for the organ
ization of the Kennebec Valley Fruit
Growers Association. and it is hoped
that the work may he extended much
farther the coming year 1t is the lnten-
ton of the department to encourage ana
assist i'm the formation of these associa-
tions as far as time and funds will per-
nit
Gypsy and Brown-tai' Moths
1.-The funds of the State for the eXter-
minatiop of the gypsy moth have been
expended along the line of the work
done bv the United States department
Consultation has been frequently held
with the field agent of the government
and the field agent for Maine, and the
agent of the general government mas as
sured us that we are doing as efilcien,
work in the determination OF the gyps!
moth as is being done by any OF the In
tested states The State is very fortu-
nate in having for its field agent such
an able energetic man as Capt. T.. T..
Philbrook of Portland.
1.-The active work of suppresSlns the
brown-tail moth is being done by the
r,nicinalities and the individual owners
of fruit and shade trees, as the law re-
uuires The cities and towns IN the III
tested sections are manifestlnS great
interest in this work. They nave taken
it up in a systematic way, ana 'he
owners of real estate in most instances
are cooperating with the ofhciais III
usiuy their utmost efforts to extermlnate
this pest.
Nursery Inspection.
.The nurseries in the State have been
;nspe cited and certificates granted, IN &C
cordance with the law. The amend
nents to the law relating to nursery
stock. passed by the last legislature re-
nuiring the licensing of agents ana au-
thorizing the State entomologist TO IN
snec+ stock coming into the State. have
been of assistance in preventing the IN
| PRODUCTION of dangerous insect pests
Many orchards have also been inspected
and information given. not only IN re-
| gard to the suppression of insect pests
hut also in relation to the general care
| and treatment of the trees. This work
ha. been faithfully prosecuted by the