Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-18

TO have been i.l5 tons per acre, which
, is the l0-year average. The quality
is about up 10 the usual grade. The
total crop was l,3os09o crops. while
the crop for the preceding year vas
1855 000 crops. Prices of hay for two
Years have ruled very low. when
compared With prices of other feeds.
and especially when the cost If pro-
duction is considered.
9Th planting Of potatoes Was 10 TO
:" per "en, less than in 1917. The
weld Vas estimated al 90 bushels
per acre and tho total crop was 80
25o. ooo bushels, This is fair crop.
BIT no. Up 20 the record, which ea-
ceeded 100000 bushels. With tire
high cost Of fertilizer and labor the
prices paid a. the present time are
not very remunerative, so It IS
claimed by many Planters.
The yield Of corn in Maine was A.
bushels per acrc. which Is 3.i bushels
above the i0-year average. The crop
vas 100000 bushels as against so
"14 for the previous year. The pack
Of sweet corn was much larger than
that Of The preceding year. The
price paid 20 producers was i've
cents per pound. d considerable ad-
vance over previous years. While
the yield was coed and some planters
reaped i rich harvest, many fields Of
corn were struck down BY untimcly
frosts. cnta.ling great loss upon the
producers.
Tn. yield Of wheat VAS % bushels
par acre. which l. a triic above the
average Tie total crop Of tho state
* estimated at $500 bushels, four
times tho crop OF tic preceding :s2 II.
The quality is good. Owing 10 i4eaNE
rains (. ie~ planters lost their crops
N IL. ftid. -As tic government ha1
fixed the minimum p.rcc for The l:i7
crop q, 1t figure Hh!ch ought TO max
tn. raising pf wheat Profitable. il is
believed There Will bc a larger plant
ing next sprlng.
Tho y.eld Of oats va ~ bushels
per acre, l.tjie shove the ;vccac'.
The total crop w4s ..7op.Vn1 bushels
as against 4.23" ,1Qp bushels Tor the
preceding year. The average Weld in
the countr. was 24.5 bushels.
The WELD If pucinheat Was 2S.
i..3s;.els per ace ara was above the
average for q years fine total crop
Vas 1900 bushels which vas ~ per
cont ahead Ct shc crop fof the proceed
ing year.
The barley crop yielded IS bushels
r@r acre. being an average crop. This
= aOoal TWO bushels above the aver
Qse fur The countr.. The total crop
VS. %. %" bushels. which Is 80 pr
cent more tnan 20! the preceding year.
The apple crop vas one Of the
Iigh;esl for Years. due in large
measure 70 the intense cold Of the
winter. Il Mas lioi ov1- 30 PSF cent
Of & normal crop The total crop Of
commercial apples MAS about $4,000
bushels. a lille over orc-haif Of that
for ;he preceding year. Owing 70
thc cold weather during tho winter,
the pea. and plum crops were almost
a total faiiUre. Tho loss 10 the or
chard industry IN ar2lc trees killed
or badly injured. Was very heavy.
Authorities disagree or the loss. An
! SWers "a questiorna:rcs sent OFT by
ing from one 10 - per cent. the av-
GRACE beng about IL per cent.
4 Fol TWO years tho poultry industry
! HIS not been very Sltisia Glory. but at
present outlook seems to be more
promising. ~ tho opening Of the
European var. poultry was kept in
large numbers on 4 large percentage
: Of tho farms OF the state. There we're
also many large plants. each carry.
in; many hundred birds. and some
thousands. Not o few young men
entered upon the industry as life
work. Modern houses were built and
modern equipment purchased. The
investment was considerable. Feed
for poultry was bought mostly from
other sections. After tho opening of
, The war. the prices Of feed went up
, by leaps and bounds. Difficulties
we're met in transportation. While
the cost Of producing eggs and meat
mounted rapidly and 10 unheard Of
heights. the price Of eggs and meat
! did not follow as rapidly. AS a con.
sequence Of that condition, large
numbers we're hurried upon the mar.
!
long time. the price was kept down
10 a point that did not compare with
the cost Of feed and labor.
After thousands and thousands Of
birds had been sacrificed, the market
began to gain in price until today the
price of poultry products compares
favorably with the cost of production.
No doubt the tide of production has
turned. and the industry will soon be
back to pre-war conditions. We
recommend that poultrymen should
consider very carefully the PROPOSE
ton Of raising more Of their own feed
SO as to be less dependent upon the
| West.
Several new herds Of beef breeds
were established during the past
year. Maine has many meritorious
herds of dairy breeds as we'll as beef
breeds. The basis OF successful ag-
riculture in Maine must rest upon its
live stock industry. More meat.
more dairy products more poultry