Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-18
kennebec Co. To Front
Diversified FARMING

hehheDec County produces more
than twice as much sweet corn for
canning as the entire State of New
hampshire and nearly as much as
the entire State of Vermont. The
acreage of sweetcorn for canning is
greater in Kennebec and Oxford
combined than in all New England
OUTSIDE or the State of Maine. Ken
nebec County farmers have planted
approximately 2400 acres of sweet
corn this year. This acreage is ex-
ceeded only by the counties of OK
ford and Somerset The annual
value of the sweet corn cron to
farmers Is approximately 500 600.
Kennebec County's greatest aeri-
cultural industry is dairyins and the
value of her dairy products is ex-
ceeded only by that of Penobscot.
Only Aroostook and Penobscot ex-
coed kennebec in the number of
FARMS In the value of farm crops and
farm animals, and harvest more hay.
Aroostook alone exceeds her in the
production of wheat. dry peas and
barley. Penobscot alone produces
more apples, and only Penobscot and
Oxford raise more silage corn. Only
three counties have more cattle and
hogs and only six out rank her in the
production of oats and potatoes.
The total value of farm crops In
Kennebec County in 1919 was ST.
S17.6l2. Dairy products were worth
S1,S62,033 and poultry products
amounted to s616,233. The produc-
ton of some Of the leading crops
that year was shelled corn, 47,3SS
bushels; silage corn, 1O769 tons;
oats, 1881 bushels: potatoes, $685.
364 bushels; hay 112.13S tons; apples,
631,652 bushels. The total value of
all crops was S5,309.041. y
While Kennebec must yield the
palm for production and value of
individual crops to Aroostook. Penob-
scot, Oxford or Somerset, the figures
just given emphasize very strongly
that Kennebec stands at the front as
Names great county for diversified
farming. Whatever can be success
fully grown and produced in Maine,
kennebec can successfully grow and
produce.
Kennebec County enjoys exception
ally good markets for quality prod
ucts. Boston is within twenty-four
hours of the door of the kennebec
County farmer and Boston pays the
highest price for quality products,
especially for poultry products of al
most any large market in the east.
High freight rates protect New
England farmers from much western
competition. The ever increa sing
number of summer visitors is rapidly
establishing an excellent market at
the very door of kennebec farmers
who live along the main highways or
near the large lakes. This business
comes at just the time when garden
truck is at its best, when milk. but
ter and cream can be most cheaply
produced and when small Gruits are
in season.
The type Of farming on the 1000
Kennebec farms is gradually chang
ing. In the old days the pioneers
came to Kennebec not to farm but to
lumber, and as the farms were clear
ed, the settlers raised practically
everything they needed for their
families in the way of food and
clothing, and produced hay, vege-
tables, beef, pork and mutton for the
lumber crews. Farming fifty or
extensive rather than an intensive
type.
Today the lumber business is
largely a thing of the past except
for the portable mills which are fast
Stripping the growth which remains.
Many Of the old rocky farms which
are not adapted to machinery are
being allowed to grow up and farm
ers are changing to dairying. small
fruits, potatoes, apples. and poultry
products. The poultry industry Is
developing very rapidly.
Accounts kept by farmers in CO.
operation with the Extension Service
show that on the whole farms, where
dairying is the basis of the farm
business and is supplemented by two
or more other sources of cash income
are bringing their owners the best
returns. Among the important
sources Of income which may be
.az,l,ipa1 NTH dairyino are DOl1Itry.