Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-01-07

der favorable weather conditions, but
I in Aroostook the late spring and
early summer brought continued
drought and very light yields of hay.
Rainfall in AroostOok continued
somewhat deficient until late Au-
gust, but was heavy enough and we'll
distributed thereafter. Most other
parts of the State had enough mois-
ture for moderate to good crop
yields. Temperatures, on the whole,
were moderate. Insects and plant
diseases seem to have been present
in about the usual amounts.
Farm labor in most sections was
more nearly normal in supply than
for some years The season began
and continued only moderately favor
able to dairy farmers. Returns from
+ the 1928 potato crop had put the
i growers in a considerably stronger
! financial position than they had
known for three of four years This
encouraged Aroostook to increase its
potato acreage in 1924 about per
cent over 1928.
Ordinarily about one-half the in
come to Maine farmers is from the
sale Of potatoes, slightly over one
fourth from the sale of dairy prod
ucts and the remainder from sales
of poultry, apples and other prod
ucts. The potato crop of 1924 is 20
Der cent. larger than that of 1928,
but Won December l prices, it is
worth only SO per cent. as much.
Prices of danny products have been
considerably lower in 1924 than dur
ing 1928 The apple crop shows
material increase in size over 1928
and is worth about 16 per cent more.
Combined income of Maine farmers
in 1924 appears to be about Is per
cent. less than it was in 1928.
--latest available information shows
a SLIGHT gain in 1924 over 1928 in
total land in cultivatiOn-l, 574, 29l
/ acres against 1,564,390. Tame hay
areas of / ,245, 600 acres remain prac-
teally the same in both years and
form almost 80 per cent. Of the to-
tai in cultivation. Production in 1924
was but 1,4S2. 600 tons, due to
drought in Aroostook, compared with
1.594,0O0 tons in 1928, Hay prices
are lower and the total value of the
crop in 1924 is $1S,616,000 COM
pared with $21, $4,000 a year ago,
Potatoes hold second place in 1924
in area planted-135,0 600 acres COM
Hared with 124, 600 in 1928. Average
yield is estimated at 305 bushels per
acre in 1924 and 25S bushels in
1923. Production in 1924 is esti-
mated at 41,f75.000 bushels COM
pared with 81, $4,000 last year. This
year about 30 per cent. of the acre
age was planted with Improved seed
and in spite of the unfavorable con
ditions up to mid August the crop,
under typically favorable conditions
that prevailed thereafter, increased
in bulk at an amazing rate.
The total increase which occurs in
the six commercial counties when
these favorable conditions set in eX-
ceeds the imagination and belief of
most people. Thus in the ten years
ending with 1928 the crop in six OF
the ten years made gains ranging
from II per cent to Sc per cent. and
averaging 81 per cent. The increase
after late August, 1924, was about
81 per cent.
United States potatoes in 1924 to-
tailed 454,7S4 900 bushels against
4l6,1O5,O00 last year. The average
price for the whole country is 65
cents per bushel compared with rs
cents last year, as of December l..
The estimated average price in Maine
is 43 cents compared with 70 cents
last year. The price for Maine pota-
toes depends upon the size of the
crop both in Maine and the United
States.
Oats with 121 900 acres in 1924
and 125, 900 in 1928 hold third place
in point of area and yield per acre OF
81 bushels was the same in both
years Higher prices in 1924 make
a total value of $2,910,00O for oats
compared with $2,590,00O year
ago. This crop is mostly fed on pro-
ducing farms.
The total apple crop of S,241 900
bushels in 1924 valued at $2,7S7,0OO
compares with 100000 bushels
worth $2,4OO,OOO year ago, and
holds fourth place in point of total
value
Sweet corn for canning had an
area harvested of 1881 acres in
1924 and 1000 in 1923. Produc-
ton per acre was about the same IN
the two years. but due to larger
acreage tota1leu ,030 tons OF cut
corn in 1924 compared with 32,05o
tons year earlier. Average proce
TO the grower in 1924 was $3.50 per
ton of cut corn and $27.51 year
earlier, while total value was ST.
1O6.673 compared with 1881 ,696
in 1923.
No significant changes occurred IN
production or values of minor field
crops. Poultry production is report
ell as considerably larger in 1924, IN
fact as having steadily increased 1of
four or five years, and prices OF poul-
try products have remained high.
The widespread and increasing use
of certified seed potatoes in Maine
and the better cultural methods
seem likely to be equivalent OF a ma
terial gain in acreage With favor
able weather conditions, the use OF
Lnt al