Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-03-27

nuenco ON pr1csical AGRICULTURAL topic
sonclfed. Address All communioations IN
tended for this department 70 HWSY D
aAonD, Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem
ocrat. Paris. Ne. ''
Farming Systems of Maine.
Geo. T. simmons. Professor Of Agronomy. IL
4 Farmers Week.)
It's the tendency for every section
OF the country to adopt the system ol
farming most nearly fitted to Its geo.
graphical, climatic, soil, market, labor
supply and social conditions. One nigh,
cite the cotton growing Of the South,
the citrus fruit production of California,
corn growing In the Corn Belt, the
wheat growing of the Northwest, and
hay growing of New England az illus.
trations to prove the statement.
As conditions arise that tend to
change these factors the system Ia very
apt to change but changes slowly. New
transportation facilities, new markets
and sometimes new crops affect the agri.
culture to q very great extent. The
opening Of new farming lands to the
westward and the trans continental rail-
roads affected New England agriculture
very seriously and the farming systems
OF to-day in Maine are to great extent
due to the drain of men and money that
was attracted to the "West' st that
time. The beef industry, the horse in
dustry, and the sheep industry have
largely passed away. The dairy indus
try has been threatened although we
hope that by efforts that are now being
exerted IL may become more firmly es-
tablished, as 1t is considered that sys-
tenn of farming that includes livestock
feeding conserves soil fertility. and al
lows crops grown on the farm to be
marketed to better advantage.
The question arises how the different
systems of farming as to-day found in
Maine justify themselves. The fact that
10 the past the farmer was able to earn q
goodly portion of his livelihood by
working winters In the woods has caus-
ed the neglect of the farm, allowing 1t to
produce hay until the yield has run very
low.
While hay growing Is encouraged by
very good markets it is recognized that
the production and marketing of hay Is
not an all year round job. The most
natural combination of hay growing and
animal industry enterprises resulted.
The later effort along this line has been
dsirying. The production of pure bred
stock has long been depended upon to
supplement- the returns from the sale of
dairying products. This not only gives
employment during winter but furnishes
market for bulky farm products. The
fact Is that a relatively low price per
unit for dairy products has discouraged
effort along this line.
Various methods have been used to
encourage dairying. One of the best is
the Sow Test Association" One of Its
functions is to determine which cows II
any fail to produce dairy products in ex-
cess of the cost of production. A few
cents advance per quart of milk would
very readily put many of the "Boarder"
COWS that do not pay their keep into the
list OF profitable producers. To main
tain the present standard of production
on Maine farms it will be necessary that
sufficient returns for the product sold to
pay fair living wage must be secured.
When the time comes that living wage
is not secured the public will begin to
bear the burden of short supply and
higher prices. The farmer can not al
ways continue to produce as much milk
as in the past unless the returns keep
pace with the advancing cost OF produc-
ton. He will need to change his system
of farming or go to another occupation,
leaving more idle land that we hear so
much about.
This idle land being due largely to the
fact that there has not been enough dif-
ference between the cost OF production
and the returns to attract the young man
on the farm from the attraction OF Cash
weekly wage of the city.
What way may be used to remedy
this condition? One way is to keep oee-
ter livestock.
In one town in Maine 10 farms with
livestock better than the average gave
an average income of S740, while A
farms with livestock poorer than the
average gave an average labor income OF
only s121.
Better returns for the product would
justify the keeping of poorer cows. II
it is not Forthcoming these cows must De
sold; the quantity of the local milk sup
DIV reduced; the price of milk and milk
products will go up and foreign products
will be brought in, or We will all eat
oleomargarine right here where there
are great opportunities for dairying.
Another system of farming In Maine
mostly based on the production OF culti-
waited crops Is the three year rotation
system carrying potatoes, grain and
clover hsy. This when good judgment
ia used will tend to keep up the produc-
tiyity of the soil. This system has the
draw back of not giving all year round
employment and causing the farmers
business to be subject to often violent
fluctuations.
Within the past few years potatoes
have varied in price from cents peck
70 rs cents a peck. No business can De
bassd ON so unsound . foundation ana
allow a reasonable prosperity for all.
The tendency 10 toward speculation 10
the commodity. 1t Is q make OF orosA
each year.
For the greater part of Maine another
system Is well adapted. 1t CONSISTS ~
the securing of q goodly income irom
more than one source.
When considered from the stanopoln'
of an important source OF income pro,
yiding at least an income OF one hunoreo
dollars per year the following data were
secured from the same town az oetore
mentioned.
II farms with one or less important
sources of income $50. :.
2S farms with 2 important sources Oh
income S251.
II farms with 8 important sources OF
| income $276.
farms with or more important
sources of income $40.
The benefit from the greater sources
of income is self-evident.
The greatest drawback to success 70
that too few projects are carried on 90 :
| sufficient extent to realize sumciens
from each to total up to Q labor income
that will justify the effort.
Sufficient diversity of enterprises, witn
we'll selected enterprises and careful at.
tention given to both the production AND
marketing ends OF the business IL the
kew to success In farming.
incubation for alfalfa may best 90 ac-
com plished by scattering over the area
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