Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-19
ACRICUL TURE IN THIS STATE
HOLDS AN ATTRACTIVE FUTURE
DECLARES .COMM'R WASHBURN.

made an almost normal plant, for
which they have reaped a rich and
Well deserved reward. No other state
has this year produced as many
salable potatoes as Maine with her
"a million bushels, nd no other state
as many as Aroostook County alone.
six million bushels of oats were
grown, or nearly two million more
than the usual production, and 49,
600 bushels Of buckwheat and 100000
bushels of barley. One county alone
produced wheat enough to manufac-
ture $4,000 barrels of -four toward its
own needs.
100000 barrels Of apples were
grown bringing fair returns for
those disposed of early in the season,
and we harvested the third success
sive large hay crop approaching one
and one-half million tons. The loss
OF our city market for hay and the
accumulation certain to follow points
to only one result, increased con-
sumption at home. which means
more beef cattle and more sheep.
Dairy products have brought in
nearly Is million dollars in cash re-
turns, and values have been fair
with a slight reduction in cost.
Poultry and sheep are somewhat on
the increase. The canning of farm
products provides an important out
let and $4,000 acres of sweet corn
and 1000 acres of peas We're planted
and harvested for this use.
Aside from these very important
results Of actual farming operations
other encouraging features tending
toward improved rural conditions are
noted. The great influx of summer
visitors has supplied many farmers
with home market and this busi-
ness is capable of great development
as we learn to take full advantage of
our opportunities and to supply the
pro- ucts needed by the summer
trade.
Great progress has been made in
the help given by the state to rural
roads and schools with ~ millions
spent on country schools alone and
81 100000 for second class or state
aid highways. more than $4,000, 600
for maintenance, and s650,0oe for
third class or farm to market roads,
a class of work that was unknown
only four wears ago.
such organizations and agencies
as the Grange, Farm Bureau, Expert
ment Station, college Of agriculture
oAiu uCPdi tlHtIL VI are all
working together in Maine, harmoni-
ously and faithfully, for the i'm
provement of farming conditions.
Among the disasters and discour-
agements of the year past we note
the breaking down of the Maine Po-
tato Growers Exchange, the largest
cooperative effort ever put forth In
the northeastern states and also the
disappearance after many years of
useful service of the last actual farm
publication in the state. Tribute
should be paid, however, to the ef-
forts of several of our daily papers to
supply this need through the medium
of weekly agricultural sheet
THE threatened invasion of New
Enrland cities by western milk may
also be retarded as one of the dam
gers menacing our agriculture since
the advent of the vacuum tank car,
which carries milk and cream almost
any distance. We must begin the
program of supplying our own needs
in the line of butter and cheese.
Suggestions as to how the ordi-
nary citizen in town or city may help
to strengthen our agricultural stu
alton were offered as follows: En-
couragement of coopera tive effort
among farmers since it means great
Improvement in the quality Of the
product supplied to the consumer;
use of Maine grown products, par
ticularly apples, canned goods, milk,