The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-10-31
THE VALUE OF MAINE CROPS REACHES
NEARLY S40,00O,0O000
Agricultural Census for 1909 Shows Total Value
of Our Products For That Year

The complete results of the agri-
cultural census for Maine with refer
enee to crops are presented in a bull
letin soon to be issued by Director
Durand of the Bureau of Census, De-
partment of Commerce and Labor.
1t was prepared under the super
vision of John Lee Coulter, expert
special agent for agriculture Data
relating to some of the more import
ant crops were published some time
ago, and in the following statement
specific reference is made only to
those crops for which information is
now available for the first
The total value of crops in 1909 was
$S9,318,0O0 OF this amount so per
cent. was contributed by crops for
which the acreage, as we'll as the
value, was reported the remainder
consisting of the value of the by
products STRAW, garden and grass
seeds, etc) derived from the same
land and as other crops reported, or
of orchard fruits, nuts, forest prod
ucts, and the like. The combined
acreage of crops for which acreage
was reported was l, $3.50 represent
ing 67.3 per cent. of the total improV-
ed land in farms (2,360657 acres).
Most of the remaining improved land
doubtless consisted of improved
pasture land lying fallow, house and
farm yards, and land occupied by
orchards and vineyards, the acreage
for which was not reported.
The general character of Maine
agriculture is indicated by the fact
that only 10 per cent OF the total
value of crops in 1909 was contributed
by the cereals, while nearly tWo-tifths
1884 per cent? was contributed by
hay and forage and nearly one-third
(31.5 per cent? by potatoes and other
vegetables. The remainder represent
ing in value about % per cent. of the
total. consisted mostly of forest prod
ucts and fruits and nuts.
The total value of crops in 1909 was
79.1 per cent, greater than that in
1899. This increase was clerly due
to higher prices, as the quantity OF
the most important products decreas-
ed. There was an increase OF 20 per
cent. in the total acreage OF crops
for which acreage was reported, but
this was almost wholly due to the IN
crease in the acreage OF potatoes and
other vegetables, all the other crops
of any importance having decreased in
acreage. Some of the leading crops
in value were hay and forage, $l3,-
10000; potatoes, $l0,225.O0O; oats
1924. 900; and corn, $435,O00. The
acreage of corn is only half what II
was 80 years ago and that of wheat
decreased over 90 per cent from 1879
TO 1889 and reached the lowest point
in 1909
RETURNS FROM VEGETABLES
In 1909 the total acreage OF pota-
toes and other vegetables was l6l,-
OS7 and their value $12,37S,000. En-
GLIDING potatoes and sweet potatoes
and yams. the acreage of vegetables
was 25.2SS and their value $2,l53,000
both acreage and value being mater
tally greater than in 1899. The census
report distinguishes between farms
which make the raising of vegetables
business of some importance (haF-
ing produced vegetables valued at
$500 or more in 1909 and other
farms, on most of which vegetables
are raised mainly for home consump-
ton. There were in 1909 only 81
farms in the first class, representing
about one-sixteenth Of the total acre
age and about one-eighth OF the tota
value. the average acreage Of yege-
tables per farm for these farms be-
ing So and the average value per
acre, $1SO,71.
The raising of flowers and plants
and of nursery products is unimport-
ant in Maine, only 1863 acres beina
devoted to these branches of agricul-
ture.
Strawberries are by far the most
important of the small fruits grown
in Maine, with raspberres and logan
; berries ranking next, closely follow
ed by blackberries and dewberrie5
The total acreage of small fruits il
. 1909 was go and in 1899, l5S3
decrease OF 20.5 per cent. The pro
duction in 1903 was 2,2S5O0O quarts
as compared with 1,705.000 quarts il