The Republican journal., 1910-03-10
Maine Potatoes.
An Attractive Booklet Issued by Industrial
Department Maine Central.


Story of Marked Success by Campaign
of Method" the Industrial Department
of the Maine Central Railroad Co. has
issued very attractive booklet on the
agricultural product of Maine which is
now most prominent in the public mind.
1t is for general distribution and indi-
Gates to considerable extent the policy
of the new department in disseminating
information of helpful character about
Maine and its opportunities.
The makeup Of the booklet is excel
lent; it is artistically designed and the
arrangement OF the matter is such as to
appeal to any one interested in agricul
tural conditions in the State.
Some excellent illustrations are used,
showing potato fields at different periods
during the growth of the tuber, and there
is double page picture of a Richmond
field with young man spraying and a
pretty lass assisting. The full page
frontispiece depicts a harvesting scene.
Eight pictures of potato houses along
While these cannot be regarded as truly
artistic, they are Of great Importance as
indicating the development of the potato
growing industry beyond the confines of
Aroostook county. Nothing could provide
better evidence of this advancement than
the photographs of the storage houses
which the increase in production has de-
manded in other sections. Most of them
were built in 1909 and several new ones
are planned to be in readiness for the
crop of this year.
Some paragraphs of the. booklet are
particularly striking. Among other
things it says: eff need be, the State
of Maine can supply the entire nation
with potatoes. In 1899 the production
was 6, 514, 235 bushels; in 1909 it reached
the stupendous total of 20, $50, 900 lush
els and no one doubts that the year 1910
will see further increase, proportion
ately as large, and no less remarkable. "
The pamphlet calls particular atten-
ton to the benefcent results accruing
from the use of modern scientific meth
DDS in the cultivation of potatoes in
drift with which practically the whole of
the farming section of the State of
Maine is overlaid makes an ideal soil for
raising potatoes, providing, as it does, a
loan which is not too heavy, and which
except in hollows, is easily drained. An
ample rainfall is necessary and long
periods of sunlight in the growing sea-
son afford an advantage, while cool and
clear atmosphere is of marked benefit.
In these details nature has been more
, than kindly to Maine. and # remains for
mankind to comply with additional re-
: ouirements essential to winning success
in this field of effort. Energy and ex-
perience have brought about in Maine a
| method of cultivation which. in combina-
ton with the gifts of nature. has result
, ed in production of potatoes far EXCEL
, ling that of anv other portion of the ma
tion.
The necessitv of rotation and fertili.
zation is emphasized in these words
ssNot the least important feature of the
result is the fact that successful notato
raising in Maine depends princinallv on
the Man Of camnaipn followed in the
growing. that is with the soil and eli
mate as existing everything rests mon
!. the IDEAS adonted in niantino deveIon.
ing. harvestinp and marketin the crop
This. Of course ;s tantamonnf to an m.
derstanding that like methods will pro-
duce ike results anywhere in the State
.. with similar has;c conditions To those of
Aroostook. That, therefore, is the crux