The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-11-10

Express AuVertiser.) Agriculture, the
basis of all prosperity, Is Names
leading industry and accounts, In a
measure. for the fact that the PEG
pie of this State are the last to feel
the affects of financial panic and the
first to revive from periods of depres-
sion. Though the State maintains
an excellent Department of Agricul-
tuIe the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In assembling a series of short sketch
es of the States leading industries.
included agriculture because of its
influence upon all the other indus
tries of the State. as we'll as because
1t is. in itself, a leading industry.
The directory of manufacturing in
dustries recently issued by the Labor
Department, has the following to saw
concerning agriculture, as an indus
try:
Upon the general conditions of the
agricultural interests of Maine as a
district OF Massachusetts and for sew
efai years subsequent to its admission
INTO the Union, Greenleaf's Survey of
Maine, edition of 1929. throws some
ilght. In his general remarks unon
me SUBJECT OF agriculture, Mr.. Green
leaf says:
The vast quantities of valuable
.iihoer with which the forests of
Maine aDounded, during the early
period OF its settlement and the null
titudes OF fish of every hA, with
Which It's rivers, and the pays and
sea In its vicinity were stocked, yield .
ed SO speedy, and often large. returns
10 the enterprise and labor of those
VINO were in the pursuit of wealth or
subsistence, that comparatively few
were satisfied to wait the slower.
thougn more certain and permanent.
returns from the clearing of the for
est and cultivation of the soil: agrj-
culture was hardly thought of. as of
much Importance, by large propor-
tion OF its early inhabitants; and IT
mas, to the present day, formed but a
secondary consideration with MANY
IN the new settlements, even of those
whose ultimate views are to that mr.
suit as their permanent occupation.
Inc consequence of this has been
10 very considerable degree in some
parts OF the State, and to some degree
IN all, an inattention to the riches of
the SOIL, a slight and superficial mode
OF cultivation, temporary expedients
and want of economy and iudicious
enterprise in the pursuits of agricul-
ture, which have tended to produce
an unfavorable impression with re-
gard to the productive ability of the
soil, and in a measure to discourage
efforts for eliciting the solid advant-
ages. which it's extensive and judi
cious cultivation will abundantly af-
| ford.
INVENTORY OF 1920
In 1920, the Legislature ordered in
yentories of the property, crops rails
ed, etc, to be returned from every
town in the State to serve as basis
for valuation upon which to assess
the State tax. These returns showed
an average product of 16 bushels pei
acre of grain, consisting of corn
wheat, oats. barley and rye, and about
| four-fifths of a ton of hay per acre
On this point Mr. Greenleaf says:
Anyone acquainted with the agri-
| CulLul VI lhO ldIu IL
Maine, must at once perceive that this
statement is in general far below the
truth; or that 1t exhibits proof of very
extensive habits of bad husbandry; OIL
is the estimate of the worst seasons
and worst husbandry; which last is
believed to be generally nearer the
fact.
But a knowledge of the fertility oil
the soil and what II might be made tc
produce was not then lacking, for Mr.
Greenleaf further states that the fer.
tility of the soil is in general equal tc
hat of any part of the Northern
States, in proportion to it's extent
that Of the northern part of the State
on the ARGOS ook end st. John, is con-
sideredsf far superior, unless 1t may be
some portions of comparatively small
| extent; but the fertility is to be fairly
estimated only when the mode of eul-
ture is aScertained -. But there are
not wanting instances of judicious
cultivation, which of late years are
much on the increase. Wherever these
have been sufficient, abundantly to
reward and encourage the cultivator
The crops of Indian corn. in different
parts of the State, and different sea-
sons, have carried from 80 to so bush
els per acre; in some instances 80
oushels wheat from Is to 40; rye
rather more; hay from " to 3 tons
other products in proportion.
In 1929, the agricultural products
Of the State were given as Indian
corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, peas
and BEANS potatoes, flax, hops, etc
AT the present time, flax and hops are
unknown as field crops, and rye near
ly SO. Buckwheat has been added and
now takes second rank among the
grain crops, being exceeded only by
the oat crop.
ITO show the improvement of the
present modes of farming over the
slight and superficial mode of cultiva-
ton In vogue during the years prior
to and Immediately following the ad
mission OF Maine into the Union, when
the average corn and other grain
crops of the State was only 16 bushels
per acre, we here present the average
yield per acre for the ten years, 1898
to 1907 inclusive, of the different
grains produced in the State. as fol-
lows: Corn, 1851 bushels; wheat, 234
bushels; oats, 81 bushels; buck
wheat, 2S.9 bushels; barley, 29.1 bush
els; being an average for the five
cereals of 307 bushels; while the
average hay crop for the same time
WAS I 3 tons nor aara THE cbomo