The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-07-20

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Maine once raised wheat in quite
large quantities, but the farmers
gave it up when the vast wheat fields
OF the West were planted. In 1888
when Maine paid bounty on wheat
l,ol9,sl6 bushels were raised in the
state. At the price which obtained
In Maine In 1909, the crop would
have been worth $1l72,788.40. There
is no reason why as large an amount
cannot be raised again, with profit.
AN DAT CROP.
Maine raised oats in 1909 to the
value of $2,661 900. The crop averag-
ed 81 bushels to the acre as against
an average of 3.66 bushels in Ill
inois q bushels in Iowa, % bushels
in Nebraska, 2S2 bushels in Kansas
and 1877 bushels in Texas, while the
average for the entire country was
CT bushels less than the average for
Maine
Let us see what this crop WAS
worth to the Maine farmer who raised
it. In Maine it was worth SOL 46 an
acre. in Illinois it was worth $13 81;
in Iowa, So As; in Nebraska, SIS. 10;
| in Kansas, S12. 13; and in Texas,
] W. Us NhiiC tuC uNCio SC III liC
tire country was $12 30. The average
farm price per bushel was 56 cents in
Maine, 81 cents in Illinois, "a cents in
Iowa, 80 cents in Nebraska, 43 cents
in Kansas and SO cents in Texas.
while the average for the entire
country was al cents.
The Maine hay crop was worth $19,-
| 551 600 on Dec. l, 1909, or $13 90 per
/ hn |.
| $14. 80 an acre; the Iowa crop, 81 Ga;
the Nebraska crop, SO 90 an acre; the
Kansas crop, $50 an acre and the
Texas crop was worth $11.30 an acre,
while the average for the entire coun-
try was $15O7. The average price at
the farm on Oct. |, 1909 was $l4 a
ton in Maine, SO 80 a ton in Illinois,
Sc. 60 ton in Iowa, So 40 a ton in
Nebraska, $3.50 a ton in Kansas and
S11. 10 ton in Texas, while the av-
erage for the country YVES $10o2.
Maine hay land averaged to yield 50
of ton of hay to the acre in 1909, as
against l. 45 tons in Illinois, 81 tons
in Iowa, so tons in Nebraska. / 10
tons in Kansas and 95 of a ton in
| Texas.
Thus though the inducement to
raise hay in Maine was greater than
in other states enumerated, the yield
was less, indicating that Maine farm
ers gave their attention to other
crops, rather than that Maine can
not produce more than SO of a ton
to the acre. Her record in other
crops shows that she can.
Maine leads the country in number
OF bushels of potatoes raised to the
acre with an average of 225 bushels,
while the average for the whole coun-
try is but 1916 s. some Ala per cent
less than Names average. Maine
stands third in total number of bush
els raised and in the value of pro-
duct, though ninth in the number of
acres planted. Maine potatoes were
/ worth $l05.75 an acre on December |,
while the Pennsylvania crop was
worth but $50.70, the Michigan crop
but $36.75 and the Idaho crop but 500.
The average for the country was
$57.5
Potato prices were the lowest in
Maine last year that they have ever
been since a record has been kept. yet
the average acre in Maine was worth
eppreciablv more than the average
acre in other great potato-raising
states. 1t is doubtful if Maine pota-
toes sell as cheaply again in many
years. The vast acreage planted this
year indicates that the men most in
terested were not frightened by one
bad year.
BARLEY, TOO, A VALUABLE PRO
DUCT.
Barley is not considered much OF a
crop in Maine, yet we raised $4,000
worth in 1909. The Maine farmers
who planted the grain averaged to
reap 28.5 bushels from each acre,
while in Illinois the yield was half a
bushel less; in Iowa 6.5 bushels
less, in Nebraska the same as in
Iowa; in Kansas, 1915 bushels less,
and in Texas only 1874 bushels The
average for the entire country was
but 24.3 bushels.
The Maine farmers who cared to
sell the product could receive 70
cents bushel while Illinois farmers
were forced to be content with So
cents; Iowa farmers with Al cents;
Nebraska farmers with AZ cents; and
Kansas farmers with SO cents. The
average for the entire country was
only 534 cents.
Maine farmers raised nearly half
million dollars worth of buckwheat
last year The yield averaged %
bushels to the acre, while the yield
in Illinois was but 1872 bushels; in
Iowa but $50 bushels; in Nebraska
but 100 bushels, and in Kansas but
14.0 bushels The average for the
country was only 209 bushels.
The Maine farmers product was
worth '$19. so per acre, as against
s14. so for Illinois, $12.7S for Iowa,
$14 for Nebraska. $14 for Kansas
and 14.61 for the entire country
Maine farmers were receiving &C
cents per bushel on Oct. /, 1909, while
Illinois farmers were receiving SO
cents; the Iowa farmer $101; the
Nebraska farmer II cents, and the
Kansas farmer 88 cents. Thus,
though the Maine farmer received
less for each bushel of buckwheat
than did some of his fellows, so abun-
dant was the yield from his land that
his return per acre was greater.
The Maine land is selling in the
market at a lower price than it is
WORTH. and an alert public is rapidly
grasping the opportunity such a con-
dition affords. To get the greatest
benefits the prospective buyer must
purchase quickly, though there will
always be advantageous opportunities
to buy small farms in the State. due