Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-03-16

ttIillIS lIlt tloD HIouuNtich Va NA'N
State were asked by men interested in
farm produce. We wondered after
listening to all such questions, if some
things had not been neglected or over
looked in the development of Maine
agriculture.
The question naturally arises, Are
we prepared to supply more trade i'll
farm products if such should be di-
rected to us? Can We hope to sue
cessfully compete with the large
farmers of the West in the production
of grain and animal produce. when our
farms are SO much smaller than theirs
and our conditions are in many cases
not so favorable? Finally, has Maine
real agricultural possibilities or is the
present talk sophistry' Maine has
approximately 100000 acres of farm
land. divided into about $4,000 farms
On the average, the size of farm Is
little over 100 acres. OF this acreage
only two counties in the State have
more than 40 acres per farm under
cultivation. Four counties have less
than - acres per farm under cuitiva-
ton. OF this cultivated land only two
counties have on the average more
and counties have less than eight
acres per farm under tllage. These
figures are alarming when we take into
account the thousands of acres OF arabic
soil producing nothing but worthless
birch and alder If 80 acres per farm
were brought under cultivation on
every farm in Maine ii would result in
an increased cultivation of one million
acres of land over what we are now
tilling. Under good system of rota-
tion of crops this increased area,
alone, could produce three times the
oats produced by all Maine at pres
ent, five times the corn. and over IA
million tons of hay besides. When we
take into consideration the fact that in
1910 over 2fl,000 tons of grain We're
imported into Maine, and that i'll at
least five places her farmers were
sowing clipped and bledched oats for
seed to the extent of five carloads. and
that an almost entire failure of crop
resulted from the use of this seed. one
is almost tempted to ask. rs the Maine
farmer aware of his own conditions"
These figures show plainly that we are
sending out over $5.0oa, 900 annually to
Maine. Not only could the Maine
farmer supply his own seed wants, but
with the excellent conditions of
climate and soil for grain and grass
seed production which surrounds him,
there is no reason why he could not
develop profitable seed producing
industry.
The farmers in Central and Northern
Michigan are making good money out
of clover seed production. Why could
not Maine farmers follow such a side
line profitably? While we mention the
opportunities in crops. we do not lose
sight of the great opportunities Maine
farmers have to supply the throngs of
summer visitors, that holiday in the
State. with dairy and poultry products
of first quality. However this mar
ket for farm products is but a frac-
ton of what waits at our very doors
to be supplied. The 20 to 80 millions
Of people in the eastern states are be-
ing fed largely from Western produce
Butter and eggs from across the Mis-
sssippi are frequently found on our
tables. In fruit the product of or
chards 5000 miles away is actually
kctS.
The suggestions which come to us
rom this great National Show are
specific and few. They are three in
number, viz; % Maine farmers need
20 appreciate their opportunities. 60
Maine farmers must cooperate in
production and marketing. go The
farmers and business men of the State
should join in campaign of good
honest and effective advertising of the
State and its products.
The farmers upon their small areas
n Maine cannot afford full equip
nent of modern farming machinery.
However, communities. Oranges, as
'ociations of whatever sort could CO.
'perate to the extent of owning an
Equipment of modern implements for
leighborhood. They could cooperate
till more effectively in marketing
heir products of the farm; products
which have drawn the worlds atten-
ion to their excellence.
Effective cooperation has done
wonders in marketing products of va
'iouS lands The fruit organization of
certain western state has made it |
''oHloie LOT tnefn 10 transport their
PRODUCTS 5000 miles and place them on
'ur own markets where they sell at |
nearly three times the price that our
PRODUCTS which are superior in flavor,
)rlng. The rich state of Iowa is this
year voting over $1,000, 900 to advertise
ne opportunities of that rich common
wealth.
Would not Maine profit from such an
expenditure on her behalf? The gov
srnor of Minnesota and a representa-
i've company of farmers and business
men from that ambitious state deemed
t good business to spend time at the
Corn Show. Would il not he
good business for Maine exhibit to be
accompanied. nay. proceeded, by a
delegation of legisla-
tors, merchants and farmers to the
next National Exhibition. In the
lght of such facts as presented above
II is surely commendablc that the
boards of trade throughout the State
are taking up the consideration of
ways and means to bring the merits of
the Pine Tree State before the Ameri-
can nation.
lhe session. after discussion of the sey