Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-17

erage yield per acre. POS bushels. To-
tai yield. 2.411 ,355 bushels. The land in
Somerset county is particularly well
adapted to potato raising and more
interest is being exhibited each year in
this crop. y few potato houses are
being built in the villages and markets
for this product are steadily improv-
ing.
Field corn-rotal acreage. 1918 acres.
Average yield per acre. A bushels.
Total yield So 4i bushels. Although
only a small acreage of field corn has
been raised in the past there seems to
be an increasing interest in this crop
and many farmers are raising more
corn each year. About s. per cent of
the corn crop consists Of yellow corn
Or which about half is used for slos
and the remainder is shocked,
Sweet corn-Total acreage. $40
acres. Average yield per acre 1910
pounds. Total yield. $3.50. 37S pounds.
The lana of Somerset county is we'll
adapted to sweet corn raising and this
is one of the most important crops of
the county. A good market is afford
ed as there are sufficient canning fac
tories
Oats-Total acreage. 15,715 acres.
Average yield per acre, 81 bushels
Total yield. 502.76f bushels. The crop
is used for seeding down by most of
the farmers. Some darymen cut part
of the oats for fodder. but the ,najori-
t. allow them to ripen.
Hay-Totai acreage. 125, 522 acres
Yield per acre, .s5 tons. Total yield,
1916 tons.
Fruit-Some excellent orchards are
found in the county. Many have been
neglected in the past. but are receiving
proper care and attention at the pres
ent time. There seems to be more in
terests in Orcharding recently and the
markets are good.
Miscellaneous crops-Totai acreage,
1865 acres. Average value per acre
$55.9S. Total value, $50 625.
Barley-Considerabl barley is raised
in this county by the dairymen, and it
is also used to some extent for soiling
purposes as Well as for grain. A num-
Der OF farmers are practicing selection
WITH The barley crop and they believe
that is can be economically raised In
this county.
Winter rye--This is used only as a
cover crop and the acreage is small.
Ro"ts--A small acreage of roots is
raised by some of the dairymcn.
Cattle-Considerable interest has
been exhibited in dairying the past
few years. There are some pure bred
sires i'll the county and most of the
dairy,nen are grading up their herds
as fast as possible. Most of the dairy
products are disposed of to the cream
cries. Some beef cattle and work oxen
are still being raised, but as the inter-
est in dairying has increased, less at
tention has been given this line of ami
NAL industry
HorSes-More horses are being kept
each year. Work that was formerly
done with oxen Is being done with
draft horses. The majority of these
are being brought from the West at
enormous prices.
Sncep-Scmerset county ranks
among the first counties in the State
in the number of sheep kept. Very
good pastures are found and more live
stock could easily be accommodated
than is kept at the present time. No
county in the State is better adapted
to sheep raising and there are several
la MUS wiz iHdhlIlS Speciality
Of TINS line of animal industry.
SwIhe-There has been an increased
number of swine kept during the past
few years.
Poultry-More poultry is being kept
each year and there are a few men
who are making specially along this
lihe. Good local and outside markets
are afforded
! Farm help-The farms of Somerset
| county require 1855 laborers. There
seems to be a little difficulty in obtain
ing farm help. but this can be I'M
| doubleday accounted for by the fact
that the wages paid are only from $40
to s26 per month.
! Markets--There are sufficient cream
/ cries ard corn canning factories to
| furnish market for these products of
the farm. Numerous potato houses
! facilitate the marketing of this crop
/ and a good local or outside market
con be found for the apple crop and
other products. A .e5a.... t,.t,. air.
Railroads--The county is crossed by
! the Maine Central and Somerset, Rail-
= 49,