Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-26
Kennebec County Potatoes.

Nevertheless, with the exception of one
town, we are able to present what may
be considered fair estimates. In every
case our correspondents were request
ed to gather such data as they could
| themselves AMI to consult with men
especially interested in potato culture
| The result is a very conservative estl-
mate that Kennebec County farmers
raised 7a4.451 bushels. The acreage so
4 far as heard from is AIS acres. Wnlle
| the price now paid is but S.45, conser-
| yatiye estimates place the average
price that will be received for the crop
at $50 per bushel Thus kennebec
County farmers have received, or will
receive, 1925 from the potatoes rails
ed in 1909. We say that these figures
are conservative because practically
every farmer has raised an acre or
more Of potatoes, and few OF those who
made estimates considered these small
! lots. 1t is more likely that the total
/ value of the potato crop in this county
was a half a million dollars.
kennebec County has not been look
ed upon as a potato country heretofore
It is only within a year or two that
men have folnd that potato culture on
a large scale can be made to pay here.
| 1t is doubtful if Kennebec will ever
hold a place in the industry like that
now held by Aroostook Remedies
| one point Of superiority is in the quail
| ty of the product. We have season
| here which is from week to two
weeks longer than that in Aroostook,
which enables the farmer to harvest
potato which is more mature and one
which is likely to keep better. The
Kennebec farmer enjoys shorter haul
| to market than the ArOostook farmer,
though the difference in freight cx-
oense is not as great as the distance
| would seem to warrant. Kennebec
| farmers have no quarrel with their
Aroostook brothers on that score, how
ever, for they recognize that the pros
perity of Aroostook means the pros
perity of a very considerable portion
of the State of Maine.
Kennebec farmers cheerfully admit,
that whatever success has been at
tanned in potato culture in Maine is
due to the methods adopted and prov
en- by the farmers of Aroostook. Some
of the farmers of that great county
have seen fit to give up their large
acreage there and take smaller farms
in central Maine. The farmer of this
section owes much to these new COM
ers, for they understand potato culture
in all it's phases and readily adapt
themselves to the slightly changed
condition. The methods which met
success here. Not only is the new
resident benefited by the change in
residence but the central Maine farmer
is also benefited.
Kennebec County is not now and
never can be in competition with
Aroostook potatoes to an extent suf
ficient to materially affect the indus |
try there. Our better rail facilities
and slightly longer season are offset !
somewhat by the peculiarities of |
Aroostooll soil, their large level fields |
their facilities for storing the crops
and the starch factories which care for |
the otherwise unmarketable portion of |
the crop, beside the prestige which |
comes from their years of leadership
in the business. 1t will be some years
before potato houses and starch fac
tories are numerous in Kennebec
though the demand for such indus
tries is growing rapidly.
a prominent farmer Of Kennebec, w.
]. Thompson, of China. believes that
there is as much in marketing the crop
as there is in raising it. He is of the
opinion that every farmer should plant |
as large an area as he can care for |
safely and follow it year after year,
rather than attempt to gamble with a
large acreage. The advice is worthy of |
consideration. for, such an industry |
spread over this county cannot fail tc |
enrich it. 1t is better for the State of |
Maine and for the County of Kenne-
bee if several thousand citizens
have successfully raised 10 acres of
potatoes than it is for third of that |
to have raised a larger acre
age.
Mr.. Thompson's table of costs is
based on accurate data and may be
deemed typical of the cost to any far
mer who conducts his business on
business principles. Mr.. Thompson's
blowing cost him IS per acre. the har-
rowing 50 an acre, the planting So, the
seed s., the spraying 81. the cultivating
So. the digging $40 and the fertilizer
$50, a total of S61. If this acreage yield
I'D he