The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-01-26
FARM STATISTICS
FOR SOMERSET
Farms, 3642-- Valuation
$3,942,729 In County
inducements TO Those Interested In
Any Line of Agriculture.


The statistics give the total mum
Der of farms in Somerset county as
3642; assessed valuation, $3,942.729;
average number acres titled land per
farm, AZ; average number acres IN
der pillow per farm, IS.
Grazing handsome excellent graz
ing land is found In Somerset coun-
ty. Not nearly as much live stock is
kept as could be accommodated.
Selling value of farm lands-Till-
age land, two miles from the rail
road station, is worth SEQ per acre
the same land at a distance of five
miles, $50 per acre Illustration An
80acre farm 30 acres of which is
good tillage land, with a good wood
lot, good pasture and good buildings
! two and one-half miles from the vii
lage sold for $4,000.
Cattle-Considerab interest has
been exhibited in dairying the past
] few years. There are some pure bred
sires in the county and most of the
dairymen are grading up their herds
as fast as possible Most of the
dairy products are disposed of to the
creameries. Some beef cattle and
work oxen are still being raised but
as the interest in dairying has in
creased, less attention has been given
this line Of animal industry
Horses-More horses are being
kept each year. Work that was form
erly done with oxen is being done
, with draft horses. The majority of
these are being brought from the
West at enormous prices.
Sheep-Somerset 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 accommo-
dated than is kept at the present
time. No county in the State is bet
ter adapted to sheep raising and
there are several farmers, who are
making a specially of this line of
animal industry.
Swine-There has been an increas-
ed 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 a specially
along this line. Good local and out
side markets are afforded.
Farm help-The farms of Somerset
county require 4S5 laborers. There
seems to be little difficulty in OBJ
tanning farm help, but this can be un-
doubtedly accounted for by the fact
that the wages paid are only from $2C
to SIG per month.
Markets-There are sufficient
creameries and corn canning factor
les to furnish a market for these
products of the farm Numerous
potato houses facilitate the market
ing of this crop and good local or
outside market can be found for the
apple crop and other products
Railroads.&c. county is crossed
by the Maine Central and Somerset
railroads.
Potatoes Total acreage l2.o22
Average yield per acre, 20a bushels
Total Yield, 2,47I,355 bushels The
land in Somerset county is particu-
larly we'll adapted to potato raising
and more interest is being exhibited
each year in this crop. A few potato
houses are being built in the villages
and markets for this product are
steadily improving.
Field corn-Total acreage. 1918
acres. Average yield per acre. a.
bushels. Total yield S5,444 bushels.
Although only a small acreage of
! field corn has been raised in the
| past, there seems to be an increas-
ing interest in this crop and many
farmers are raising more corn each
year. About 80 per cent of the corn
crop consists of yellow corn of
which about half is used for silos and
the remainder is shocked
Sweet corn-Total acreage. 3470
acres. Average yield per acre
1910 pounds. Total yield. $780,
378 pounds. The land of Somerset
county is well adapted to sweet corn
raising and this is one of the most
important crops of the county A
good market is afforded as there are
sufficient canning factories.
Oats-Total acreage, 15,705 acres.
Average yield per acre, 80 bushels
Total yield, 5O2,764 bushels. The
crop is used for seeding down by
most of the farmers. Some dairymen
cut part of the oats for fodder, but
| the majority allow them to ripen.