Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-07-18
Malne's Leading Crops.
HAY IS FIRST AND POTATOES SECOND
IN IMPORTANCE.

Statistics relative to the leading crops
for the state OF Maine collected at the
Thirteenth Decenuial census, April 10,
| 1910 ara contained In an official state
ment issued BY Acting Census Director
Falkner. 1t is based on tabular sum
maries prepared under the direction OF
DR.. lie Grand Powers, chief 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
incomplete, will be included in the fnal
tables. It 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 order Of valuation, we're:
Hay and forage, SIS, 10000; potatoes,
$40, ,224, 900; oats, S2 600; corn,
SAT- 900; dry edible beans, s275, 900; and
buck heat, $4,000.
SLIGHT DECREASE IN HAY AND FOR
AGE.
During the ten years ending with 1909
hay and forage decreased 1928 acres,
OF IL per cent. From l,219,z99 acres
in 1879, there was an increase to l 800
302 in 1889, decrease to 1,27O,254 10
1896, and again to Sl,255,Ol1 in l9O9.
The total yield in 1909 was 1,l13,095
tons; the average yield per acre, 90 ton;
the average value per acre, Sl2.
POTATOES NEARLY DOUBLE.
From 1899 to 1909 the acres of po-
tatoes harvested increased 4,OO3, or
50 per cent. From 1857 acres in 1889
there was an increase to Il, ,79o in 1879,
and again to 135, ,76S in 1909. The total
Weld in 1909 was 2S,552,91 bushels, the
average yield per acre 2l0 bushels, and
the average value per acre. $3.50.
A GAIN IN OATS.
During the decade from 1899 to 1909
oats increased 1850 acres, or lib per
cent. Starting with 7S,7S5 acres in
1879, there was an increase to - ,6l2 in
1889. a falling off to los, ,69l in 1899, and
A rise to 12O, ,99l in 1909, net increase OF
over 80 per cent for the 80 years. The
total yield in 1909 was 4, ,232 ,359 bushels,
the average yield per acre 50 bushels,
the average value per acre Sl9.
From 1899 to 1909 there was de-
crease in corn of 1928 acres, or II per
cent. In contrast to oats there was
decrease OF almost so per cent during the
past 80 years. The acreage was 3O,997
acres in 1879, dropping to 1881 10 1889,
then increasing to 1886 in 1899, but
again decreasing to 10, ,55S> acres in 1909.
The total yield in 1909 was 667 ,OS9 BUSH
els, the average yield per acre 43 bushels,
and the average value per acre S2S. 10.
DECREASE IN DRY EDIBLE BEANS.
DRY edible beans decreased from 10,-
DIP acres in 1899 to 3,645 acres in 1909,
or 84.4 per cent. The total yield in
1909 was S7,585 bushels, the average
yield per acre "a bushels, and the aver
age value per acre 5000.
BUCKwHEAr DECREASE.
The decrease in buckwheat between
1899 and 1909 was 9,740 acres, or 3S.5
per cent. In 1879 there was 20, 135 acres
reported; in 1889 it had increased to
23. 395 acres; in 1899 there was further
increase to 25 ,292 acres, with decline to
1852 acres in 1909. The total yield In
1863 was 316,7 1872 bushels; the average
yield per acre, 20 bushels; the average
value per acre, S12.20.
CROP CoMPARIso Ms.
The cereals had an aggregate acreage
in 1909 of l59, ,965 acres, as compared to
l66. 500 acres in 1899, a decrease OF 1881
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 cul-
tivated grasses" being second in rank,
and "timothy alone" third. Very few
of the minor or miscellaneous crops are
reported.