The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-08-03
New England News Letter.
The County Agent Work


crease or decrease production, to pro-
mote any special crop or crops, or to ia
vor any class above another, but to guide
the agricultural development of his coun-
try into more economic channels so as to
increase it's general prosperity. In his
work with the individual farmer his sole
aim is to help him increase his net in
come by the end of the year, with due
regard for keeping up the future produc-
ton of his farm.
No farmer can afford to be without
the accumulated experience of others.
Farmers in all branches are gradually
turning from the old learn by your own
experience idea of the past to the profit
by-others-experience idea of the twenti-
eth century.
Financial success is, after all, at the
bottom of our social and moral develop
ment. 1t is, therefore, the duty of
everyone of US to cooperate with every
agency which aims to build up better
and happier country life upon the foun-
dation of better material prosperity
David Elder in New England Farms.
Lower Crop Estimates This Year.
The crop estimate of the U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture for June shows
that the outlook for bumper crops is not
as good in most directions as last
wear. The wheat crop for 1916 is esti-
mated to be three hundred million BUSH
els less than last year. The condition is
only II per cent of a normal crop, with an
indicated average yield of al bushels
per acre compared with 1863 bushels last
wear. The farmers who have top-dress-
ed their wheat know how profitable
Yields are obtained. Farmers who know
are planning to feed their plants better
for next years yield. TIE indicated
WELD of rye will be IL bushels per acre
compared with 172 bushels last year.
Peaches and apples share in the unfavor-
able estimates when compared with nor
nal yields, and illustrate that greater
attention is needed to soil fertility and
larger production methods.
Wheat Yields and Beef Production.
"Those so and SIS bushels to the acre
wheat yields don't ''just grow any
more than does a load of prime finished
baby beeves. The cattle are never al
lowed to lose their calf fat and are fed
literally of a balanced ration from the
day they are born until they go into the
car for market" says Clyde A. Waugh,
in Farm and Fireslde. Record wheat
crops must have plenty of balanced
plantfood ration to give them quick
start in the fall, to enable them to resist
disease and insect attacks, to make
enough growth in the fall to cover the
ground before winter sets in, to start
out early in the spring and to make
straight standing, early ma uring. bum
per crop of first quality"
Related to Sir Hiram Maxim.
Howard F. Maxim of Bethel County,
Maine, who is relative of Sir Hiram
Maxim, inventor of the gun by that
name, has been successful as small
fruit grower since 1898. He now has Is
acres of raspberries in addition to large
plots of strawberries and other small
fruits. This year he expects to harvest
six thousand bushels of raspberries
alone. This success illustrates what can
be done in New England with small
fruits and berries, when the best meth
DDS of fertilization, cultivation and hand
ling are employed.
Society President Record Corn Grower.
W. F. Burnham, president Of the
Franklin county (Msss.) Agricultural
Society, last year harvested lis bushels
of shelled corn from one acre of ground
which was plowed seven inches deep,
lined and we'll cultivated. The corn
was planted % inches apart in the rows,
and the rows SO inches distant Guilt
walton was gwen once each week until
July 10Th. The field was fortified with
stable manure, and with 400 pounds of
high-grade fertilizer.
City and Rural Prosperity Related.
prosperity IN the city Is bound up
with prosperity in the country and farm
ers constitute an important market for
city products just as the city furnishes a
sure market for the products of the
farm. Bad conditions in the country re-
act upon the city and closer acquaint-
ance between city and country result in
better mutual understanding and great
er prosperity" says David Stone Kel-
sey of West Hartford, Conn, "AgricuI
ture is great New England industry,
employing more than quarter million
workers. The prosperity of the farm
er means great prosperity of the men
and women in the cities. The farm
products enter into the commerce of the
city, employ the transportation inter-
ests in distribution, employ wholesale
and retail firms in marketing, furnishing
raw material for the canning and pack
ing industries and SO directly employing
thousands OF New England workers in
addition to those engaged in actual farm
ing"