Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-16

value of products from the business
of raising domestic animals for use
sale, or slaughter can not be ealculat-
ed from the census returns.
Dairy Products.
The number of farms reporting
dairy cows on April 10, 1910, was 40
944. but only 1885 reported dairy
products in 1909. That there should
ba this difference is not surprising.
Doubtless some farmers who had
dairy cows in 1910 had none in 1903
while other farmers neglected to, give
information for the preceding year,
or We're unable to do so, perhaps be-
cause the farm was then in other
hands. Dairy products in general
are somewhat less accurately reported
than the principal crops This is
particularly the case as regards the
quantity of milk produced, The num-
Der Of farms which made any report
of milk produced dGring 1909 was 3D.
591 somewhat less than the total
number reporting dairy products), and
the number of dairy cows on such
farms on April 10, 1910. was 10000.
The amount of milk reported was &c.
026.000 gallons: assuming that there
were the same number of COWS in
1909 as in 1910, this would represent
an average of 445 gallons per COW.
IN considering this average. however,
it should be borne in mind that the
quantity of milk reported is probably
deficient and that the distinction be-
tween dairy and other COWS is not al
ways strictly observed in the census
returns.
BY reason of the incompleteness of
the returns for milk produced, the
Census Bureau has made no attempt
to determine the total value of dairy
products for 1909. For convenience a
partial total has been presented COM
prising the reported value of milk,
cream, and butter fat sold and the re-
ported value Of butter and cheese
made. whether for home consumption
or for sale. The total thus obtained
{ for 1909 is .ss,0S0 .od9,< which mayl be
defined as the total value of dairy
products exclusive of milk ard cream
used on the farm producing.
Considerably less than one-fourth of
the milk produced in Maine was sold
as such. \ comparatively large guam
tity of milk and cream was sold on
the butter fat basis. The butter made
on farms in 1909 was valued at So, 1885,
00o.
Comparisons are made between
1909 and 1899 for but few of the CEN
sus items relating TO dairy products.
for the reason that in 1899 estimates
We're made'for farms with incomplete
reports, which was not done at the
census of 1910. The figures for milk
produced and milk sold are particu
larry affected, but those for butter and
cheese are approximately comparable
There was material decrease between
1899 and 1903 III the amount of butter
made, and a still greater relative de-
crease in the production of cheese.
Wool
The total number of sheep of shear
ing age in Maine on April Is. 1910
vas 100000. representing decrease of
i0.5 per cent, as compared with the
number on June /, 1909 I2320G0A.
The approximate production of wool
during 1909 WAS 157, fieeees. weigh
ing $4,000 pounds. and valued at
secs, 600. OF these totals about per
cent. represents estimates. The nunN
Der of fleeces produced in 1909 was SO
per cent. less than in 1S99,The average
weight per fleece in 1909 was .
pounds as compared with 81 pounds
in 1899, and the average value per
pound was % cents, as compared with
% cents in 1899.
Goat Hair and Mohair.
Although 147 farmers reported $50
goats and kids on their farms April
Is, 1910, only SO reported the produc
ton of goat hair or mohair during