Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-29

w lt1CC D1SSuSSCS
Maine Agriculture
at Crop Reporting
Meeting at Boston
while Maine produces as large a
variety of crops as any other New
England state, the fact remains that
the real revenue producing crops of
agricultural industries can be counted
upon less than the fingers of the
two hands: potatoes, apples. sweet
corn, hay, and dairy and poultry pro-
ducts are among our principal farm
ing activities" declared Charles NJ.
White, chief of the division of mar
kets, Maine department Of agricul-
ture, in speaking Thursday at the
New England conference on crop re-
porting held at Boston. Mass. Mr..
Whites subject was What Maine
Expects of the New England Crop
Reporting Service"
$50 far as the estimate of the
Maine crop of potatoes is concerned
there is little if any criticism for i'm
provement to be offered" continued
Mr.. White. Eternal viligence should
be practiced to maintain the present
high standard of efficiency in report
ing this crop. Potato raising has
become well established as a special
lied industry in Aroostook county,
and the prosperity of the county de-
ponds on the profits to be derived
from it's cultivation,
apples: At the present time and
for a few years past there has been
greater interest displayed in the set
ting of new orchards. also the reno
waiting. fertllizing and better care
generally of many old orchards.
While probably the setting of new or
chards has not yet replaced the loss
suffered though winter killing of
many Baldwin orchards in the state,
still care must be practiced in watch
ing the development of new orchards
and the increase in production Of bet
ter cared for old orchards. The en-
phasis should be placed on correct
ly estimating the commercial apple
crop as Seperate from the total apple
CROP as the natural fruit and worth
less varieties lay no important part
as q source of income to the farmers
of the state.
Sweet Corn: The basis for Il great
Improvement in reporting this i'm
portant cash crop for many sections
of the state was made last year. A
factory to factory canvas was made
by Mr.. G.. d. Stevens and n represen-
tative of the Maine Department of
Agriculture last summer. This re-
suited in the tabulation of actual
acreage intentions as shown by the
contract books. Accurate checks as
to the amount of abandonment of
tS. -
important factor of the sweet corn
industry as far as actual deliveries
to the factories are concerned. In
many localities the past season the
cold nights so retarded the maturing
greatly reduced. In fact. many farm
ers cut their corn as fodder. and none
was delivered to the factories.
Hay: While the figures for this
crop make sizable total for the
state. it is not n large, direct income
producer. Much of 1t is used for
home consumption for the dairy herds
of the state. as we'll as the horses and
other animals. The surplus sold va
ries from year to year for two rea-
sons. First, climatic conditions and
second. tho upward and downward
tendency of the numbers of live stock.
Live Stock: With the tendency
downward in the number of sheep
kept in the state. and with swine de-
pending largely upon the amount of
skim milk available from the dairy
herds of the state, it is evident that
live stock figures should stress the
dairy COW. Not only should the re-
ports include the numbers Of dairy
cows with the increase and decrease
tendency, but also the amount of pro-
duction per cow is desirable. A
period of depression similar to that
through which we have just passed
brings home the oft repeated lesson
that the per unit cost of production
must be low to insure profit. Sta
tistics should he available to show
what is n fair production, then the
farmer may know when he succeeds
in increasing the per cow production.
and will be able to continue in the
business; where the low producing
herd will put the owner opt of bust
ness.
'If any extension were to be made In
the live stock program il should take
TN the poultry industry. Careful sur
veys made by county agents Of the
state show that egg production has
heen given more thoughtful attention
than any other line of farming in the
central and southern parts of the
state during the past three years
Valuable data as now in the hands OF
the extension service as TO the num-
Der of hens in fiocks Of fifty or more.
and may easily he made the basis Of
reports. should this seem advisable.
You will note that practically no new
lines OF work have been suggested,
and there are several reasons for this.
First. 1t is becoming apparent that
the present machinery is being used
to capacity. as is evidenced by our
inability to have the 1923 crop sum-
mary in the hands of the public be-
fore this time. It is unnecessary to
emphasize the fact that only such
work should he undertaken as can
be done promptly and WELL
Second. statistics, fluctuations,
comparisons and estimates have been
multiplied and extended until the ay-
crage busy farmer or man of affairs
has not the time 20 analyZe them
properly for his own use. Great good
can come from SO simplifying our re-