Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-01-09
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEED THE PLOw."

"sPEED THE PLow."
Correspondence on practical Agricultural topic
is solicited. Address all communications u
tended for this department 70 HENRY
HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor Oxford Den
ocrat. Paris. No.
State Orange Report on Agriculture
At the annual meeting of the Main
State Grange, II. o. Wood Of Lewiston
chairman OF the committee on agricul
ture, presented the following report
which by adoption was made part o
the action Of the Grange:
ulation to flock to the cities devolve
upon the farmer a greater work eacl
year to feed this rapidly increasing
army, and do 1t at profit. The popu
lalion of a large proportion Of our Main,
towns has stood still for the past twent!
years, and in a great many more ther'
has been decrease in population.
The fertility of the soil in our western
states has been steadily decreasing
Continued cropping, without putting
back anything to enrich the soil, is hav
ing its results; noticeably in the slowly
but steadily increasing price OF grain.
We must learn to make our fields
produce more; that is our only hope tt
supply this increasing demand, and dc
it at profit.
The inestimable value of the work oi
the Agricultural Department at Wash
ington, in conjunction with that of oui
State Experiment Stations and Agricul,
tural Colleges, is being realized more
and more by the farmers, and the re-
suits are yearly making themselves mani
fest in a marked degree.
Here in our own state experimental
work and the education of the farmer
through bulletins, lectures, corn and
fruit shows, and various other methods
are slowly but surely advancing farming
to the place in our industries to which
it is justly entitled.
Maine in 1910 had the largest average
yield per acre of potatoes of any state in
the Union, 220 bushels; and We are
going to do better than that. Maine
also stands at the head in the average
yield of buckwhest, 32 5 bushels per
acre. She leads in the yield OF wheat
with 297 bushels per acre; while Kan
sas, the largest wheat raising state in
the Union, has an average of only IA 2
bushels to the acre. In 1910, in Maine,
there were 5000 acres sown to spring
W heat and 287 600 bushels harvested.
In the yield of oats, Maine stands fourth
in the Union, with yield Of 1854 900
bushels.
One fact stands out prominently.
namely, that we are steadily increasing
our yield per acre of all the staple crops.
This is the result of better farming.
In 1910, Maine produced 27,94O, 900
bushels of potatoes, only two states
raising more, New York and Pennsyl-
vania. Only few years ago Maine was
not spoken of as one OF the big potato
states. We have always considered
Aroostook as the potato county, but We
lind that potatoes can be raised all over
Maine, almost, IL not just as well as In
ArOostook.
In 1910, Maine planted 1900 acres to
corn and raised u.s., 600 bushels. We are
Just finding out that We can raise good
corn. b. the aid of the Seed Improve
ment Association We have increased our
best yield, which up TO 1908 WAS 40
bushels per acre, 10 45 bushels In 1910.
The results Of the work of this associa-
ton are most gratifying for the short
time that Il has been organized. That
Il will help the Maine farmer immensely
iu solving the grain problem, cannot be
doubted by those who have followed Its
progress.
Our fruits, IL We will but take ad-
vantage OF our knowledge Of the better
methods Of spraying, cultivating and
pruning, will command the highest
prices In the market. Determined aud
persistent efforts are being made at
every session OF the state legislature to
compel better grading Of apples and pre-
seut the finding Of three or four ysrie-
lies In q barrel marked Baldwins and
No. 2's and 3's in a barrel marked No.
Ia. In this respect and others, Maine is
behind other states.
We believe il should be the policy of
our state legislature to consider agricul-
ture by far the most important Of our
Industries, aud to so frame our laws as
to foster and build II up, and advance 1t
by all the power 1t possesses.
Among other things that vitality affect
the farmer, the insect pest is most
serious one, and needs the earnest and
vigilant attention of every farmer, COM
bined with a continuous fight by towns,
cities aud state. 1t is very evident that
the brown-tail and gypsy moth are rapid
ly increasing and spreading, and Maine
will soon be obliged to spend large sums
for their determination, as Massa.
chusetts has done in the past.
We believe that through the Grange
40 effort nation wide should be made for
The better protection of our insect eating
birds. The decrease of these birds is
argely responsible for the great in
crease in insect pests. In Europe, arti-
icisl nests are provided to entice the
birds to build near dwellings, with
marked success.
The boys and girls agricultural clubs,
/ new department for Maine, have re-
gently been started with marked success.
This is bound to develop an interest
among the young people for agriculture
hat will tend to keep more boys and
,irls on the farm.
The increased interest that 10 being
aiken in agriculture is made manifest
,y tho number of our business men,
after q strenuous life in the cities,
iesire to get out and own farm.
The improved condition Of farm life
ias been largely brought about by the
telephone, the trolley lines, the rural
rec delivery, and, We trust will 500 n be
enhanced by the parcels post and better
'oads.