Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-10
lumber on them were doubtless abon-
dnned when the lumber disapneared

is much less than might be supposed.
Seine of them because of their rocky,
billy, inaccessible condition. were I'M
profitable to operate at the best and
Lad much better be abandoned, to so
back to lumber for which they are
letter adapted.
Maine is not alone, however, in
showing a decrease in farms and
farm land during the 10-year period
from 1910 to 1920. The other New
England states show similar condi-
ton, and when viewed from a compar-
ative standpoint Maine holds very
encouraging position. Although the
state is reported as losing 1872 percent
of its improved land during the de-
cade, every other New England state.
with one exception, lost a greater
percentage, three states losing more
than 20 percent each.
Maine showed an increase in acres
OF improved land per farm, while ev-
cry other New England state except
one showed a decrease. Maine in
creased the value of her crops in
1919, over those of 1909. by 200 per
cent, whereas the largest increase by
any other state in New England was
1907 per cent. Maine increased the
value of her dairy products 1912
per cent. One other state increased
slightly more than this, but in no
other New England state was the in
crease above 100 per cent
Our discussion has thus far CEN
tered largely around the decreases in
acreage of improved land, which COW
crs all cleared land, including pas
ture. The acreage of crops harvested
is probably a better measure Of the
situation, and in this respect Names
acreage decreased only SO per cent.
Every other state in New England
showed a greater decrease, four of
them more than IA per cent.
If there is a question as to wheth-
or Maine farmers are not doing their
share in the production of food, it
might be said that the census of
1920 reports Maine farms as produc-
ing for sale in 1919 more ponds of
beef, veal, pork, lamb and mutton
than any other New England state:
also more bushels of potatoes and
1PpICS, HUI Z lOilS VI Hoy IlOi buSH-
els of oats and barley and more
pounds of butter.
Maine farms showed a larger num-
Der of beef cattle, sheep and hives
Of bees than any other New England
state, and a larger number of dairy
cattle, swine and fowl, with one ex-
ccption in each case.
This census also reports Maine
farms as leading all other New Eng
land states in production of eggs,
wool, sweet corn, wheat, buckwhcat,
plums, dried fruits and vinegar. With
one exception in each case, Maine
produced more hay, milk, chickens
and more acres of green peas.
The decrease in the number of hens
as reported in the census is not in
line with the general trend. as hens
increased very consistently with each
1Gyear period between 1880 and
1910. The drop recorded in 1920 is
the direct result of war conditions
Judging from the tendency as shown
by previous reports. it would be ex-
pected that the poultry business
would show a marked increase with
the return to normal conditions.
The total value Of Names crops
in 1919 exceeded that of any other
New England state, and although the
value of her stock products was ex-
ceeded. the combined value of crops
and livestock products was greater
than that of any other state.
Maine farms are more free from
mortgage debt than are those of any
of the 81 northern states. The per-
was reported as 67.5, and the next
big best state was CAS-. The pro-
portion of debt to the value Of the
property is the lowest in Maine of
any of the New England states.
Names ratio is 31.S per cent. Only
five in the 81 northern states showed
lower debt per farm.
The amount of mortgage has in
creased during the last 10 years but
this has been necessitated in a large
measure by the increased value of
property and cost of doing business.
The average debt increased 1872 per
cent. The value of land increased
1913 per cent Livestock increased
5S.1 per cent: implements and ma
chinery increased S3.S per cent: the
total amount paid for feed, fertilizer
and labor increased 80 per cent. The
per cent of farms free from mort
gage has decreased in Maine from
11.9 per cent in 1890 to 67.5 per cent
in 1920. But other states show a
similar tendency and in some of them
RI al ~ T.,
Maine.
Twice as large a percentage Of the
cattle in Maine are purebred as is the
average for the country, Names be-
ing 81 per cent, and that of the Uni
ted States only 3 per cent. Only sew
en- OF the 81 northern states have a
percentage equal to or above that Of
Maine. Two per cent of Names
sheep are purebrcd, while the coun-
try's average is 1.3 per cent. Though
Maine is not hog producing state,
50 per cent of her swine are pure
bred, as compared with 35 per cent
for the country as whole
The decreased production which
has occurred has come mainly on
those things in which western COM
petition has been keenest This has
forced change in the general type
OF farming in many sections of the
state. Farmers have been obliged
to change their business to meet, at
a greater extent, the demand for
fresh products and to produce the
crops for which their local conditions
are best adapted.
The early agriculture Of the state