The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-06-29
Names Leading Crops.
Hay is First and Potatoes Second in Inn
pOrtance.

Hay is First and Potatoes Second in I'M
portance.
Statistics relative to the leading crops
for the State of Maine collected at the
Thirteenth Decennial census, April Is,
1910, are contained in an official state
Falkner. 1t is based on tabular sum-
maries prepared under the direction of
DR.. LIE Grand Powers, cheif statistician
for agriculture in the Bureau of the
Census. The figures are preliminary and
subject to slight revision later, when
few other farms, whose returns, now in
complete, will be included in the final
tables. 1t is not expected that these
additions will materially modify the
amounts or rates given in the present
statement.
The leading crops of the State for
1909, ranked in the order Of valuation,
were: Hay and forage, SIS, 116, 900; po-
tatoes, $1O,224, 900; oats, 1924, 900;
corn, $447, 900; dry edible beans, $275, 900;
and buckwheat, $4,000.
SLIGHT DECREASE IN HAY AND FORAGE.
During the ten years ending with 1909
hay and forage decreased 1928 acres,
or IL per cent. From 1,279, 299 acres in
1879, there was an increase to 1900, 302
in 1889, decrease to 1,270, 254 in 1899,
and again to 1,255, oil in 1909. The
total yield in 1909 was 1,113,O95 tons;
the average yield per acre, 90 ton; the
average value per acre, $12.
POTATOES NEARLY DOUBLE.
From 1899 to 1909 the acres of potatoes
harvested increased 64,003, or 80 per
cent. From 1857 acres in 1889 there
was an increase to 71,765 in 1899, and
again to 1876, 1853 in 1909. The total yield
in 1909 was %, $50, GIL bushels, the aver
age yield per acre 210 bushels. and the
average value per acre, $3.50
A GAIN IN OATS.
During the decade from 1899 to 1909
oats increased 1880 acres, or 11.3 per
cent. Starting with 1871 acres in
1879, there was an increase to 12I, 612 in
1889, falling off to 108, 661 in 1899, and
rise to 12O, 991 in 1909, net increase
of over so per cent. for the 80 years.
The total yield in 1909 was 1882, 300
bushels; the average yield per acre, IS
bushels; the average value per acre, $19.
CORN DECREASES SLIGHTLY.
From 1899 to 1909 there was decrease
in corn of 1898 acres, or ~ per cent.
In contrast to oats there was decrease
of almost so per cent. during the past 30
years. The average was 80, 997 acres in
1879, dropping to 10, 1891 in 1889, then in
creasing to 1886 in 1899, but again de-
creasing to 1858 acres in 1909. The
total yield in 1909 was 667, 089 bushels,
the average yield per acre 43 bushels,
and the average value per acre $28.7 20.
DECREASE IN DRY EDIBLE BEANS.
Dry edible beans decreased from TO-
252 acres in 1899 to 3,645 acres in 1909,
or GA per cent. The total yield in 1909
was 81, 565 bushels, the average yield per
acre "a bushels, and the average value
per acre $3.50.
BUCKWHEAT DECREASES.
The decrease in buckwheat between
1899 and 1909 was 9,74O acres, or 49, 5
per cent. In 1879 there was 20, 1875 acres
reported; in 1889 it had increased to 49,
1876 acres; in 1899 there was further in
crease to Is, 292 acres, with a decline to
SIS, 552 acres in 1909 The total yield in
1909 was 316, 1872 bushels; the average
yield per acre, 20 bushels; the average
value per acre, $l2.2O.
CROP COMPARISONS.
The cereals had an aggregate acreage
in 1909 of 159, 965 acres, as compared to
166, 1886 acres in 1899, decrease of g.
931 acres, or AZ per cent. The greatest
falling off was in buckwheat. The great
est gain among the cereal crops was in
oats; the greatest gain of all crops was
in potatoes. Of the hay and forage,
timothy and clover Mixed was much
the most prevalent, "Other tame or
cultivated grasses" being second in rank,
and timothy alone" third. Very few
of the minor or miscellaneous crops are