Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-30
IMPROVED FARM MACHINERY
Is Key To Solution Of Labor Problem
For the Farmer.

In this day of specialization and
keen competition perhaps no producer
in the country is feeling the stress of
the labor situation and increased cost
OF operation more than the farmer.
He must needs devise some method
to alleviate the former and to meet
the latter situation. The use of more
improved farming machinery is his
key to the solution of the problem.
On the Modern Farming Special.
which is to be conducted by the Maine
Central Railroad under the auspices
of the University of Maine June to
Is. will be shown machinery which is
not in general use upon Maine farms.
machinery which, if employed to the
best advantage on such farms, would
make possible an increase of at least
60 per cent. of the present net income
of such farms. The sulky plow assists
the plowman to increase his area of
work at least 10 per cent. The disk
harrow accomplishes the thorough
breaking down of hard Jumps of clay
and makes the seed bed mellow and
cheerful. The new riding cultivators
allow the cultivation of two rows at
once as well as conserve the energy of
most up-to-date farms, at the present
time. They plant the seed at a uni
form depth. cover it sufficiently but
not too deeply; distribute fertilizer at
the same time as SOW grain and save
at least Is per cent. of time and labor
of planting. Corn planters accomplish
the same for corn. Corn planted by
machinery is in rows that admit of
rapid thorough cultivation. Modern
grain and corn harVesters make the
harvest a season of pleasure instead
of a period of fatigue and aches. The
small farmer who has only five to ten
acres of oats to cut says that he can
not afford a binder. This is true, but
five or six farmers of a community
could afford one of these machines
among them, and save 25 to 40 per
cent. of their harvesting bills, which
aggregated would mean considerable.
Probably one of the most handy
forms of power for the farm is that of
gasoline. The gasoline engine will
pump water. operate feed grinder.
cream separator. churn. wood saw.
tanning MILL potato grader and dy-
namo for an electric lighting system
in the farm home. The children of
men need not longer sit in darkness
when five horse power gasoline en-
CINE will operate a dynamo sufficiently
large to supply power for so, 16candle
power electric lights.
The king pin of the machine exhib-
it is the potato machinery. The State
of Maine is raising more bushels of
potatoes to the acre than any state in
the Union. To keep in the forefront
in both quantity and quality it must
reduce the cost of production. improve
methods of raising, avoid physical in
Jury to the crop. and grade the crop
before selling. The potato planter will
greatly facilitate the speed of plant
ing and will insure uniform depth of
seeding. Timely spraying with Bor-
deauX mixture brings an increase of
from So to 20 per cent in the crop, says
the Geneva Station. Well grown crops
must be harvested correctly. To har-
vest large area of good potatoes a
good potato digger is an essential.
BY the general farm machinery ex-
hihit it is aimed to demonstrate that
the busy, up to-date farmer. equipped
with the latest advantages in farm
machinery. can grow acres where he
grew square rods, and tons where he
grew hundred weights-san reduce the
cost of production from 90 to 30 per
cent. and increase his returns accord
ing1y.