Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-15

VAAo-ASAA AAiAAAAOh SOAS Will u COHSlu6Is
able reduction in tonnage for 1925.
The number of cattle in Maine kept
for milking purposes continues to de-
cline. In this classification there were
in 1924 100000, and in 1925 206, 900,
comparable figures for 1925 are not
yet available. Such q decline does not,
however, necessarily mean any falling
off in production. It is usually the
"boarder" or ''robber' COW that is re-
| moved from the herd in times Of high
ly priced feed and labor and we note
| slight advance in the production per
cow and also in the prices received.
Feed costs have declined slowly, leav-
ing the position Of the dairy farmer
somewhat stronger than one or two
years ago. We should not, however,
lull ourselves into any sense Of conf
dence or complacency regarding the
dairy situation. There are many dan
gers which today threaten the dairy
business of New England. The fluid
milk market in New England cities
| still shows heavy surplus at times
| and this danger is augmented by the
| coming of the tank car and the conse-
quent threat of an invasion of western
milk. Again, prices are times borne
| to low level through the operations
of the chain, or cash-and-carry stores,
| which are said to supply themselves
| with cheap OUTLAW" milk wherever 1t
can be secured and to dispose of it at
| a very low profit or at no profit what
ever, merely as trade stimulant OBJ
viously, dairymen all over New Eng
land should consider these dangers
| carefully and be prepared, If necessity
| arises, to turn a greatr proportion of
their product into butter, cheese,
| cream and ice cream with a conse-
quent retention of skim" on the farm.
Again, we cannot recommend any in
crease in the number of producers and
it is quite possible that market condi-
tions within the next 10 years may
bring about the elimination of many
small herds, a contingency not pleasing
to consider, but one which may be
foced upon us as the necessity for
greater efficiency and lower overhead
| costs in the dairy business becomes
more pressing. We note with some
concern a threatened break between
two great agencies that have been es-
tablished to protect the dairymen of
Maine from the losses incident to in
dependent or unorganiZed traffic in
dairy products. Every true friend to
Maine agriculture will Join us in sim
cerely hoping for a speedy adjustment
of all differences between the New
England Milk Producers Association
and the Turner Center System in Or
der that these great organizations may
continue to stand together as a bull
wark of protection for our dairying in
terests.
The production of sweet corn for
canning has increased in recent years
within our State with the possible
exception of 1926 when seasonal and
climatic conditions somewhat reduc-
ed the crop. In 1925, fifteen thousand
six hundred acres yielded forty-four
thousand, seventy seven tons of cut
corn. Pea canning is slowly forging
ahead as branch of the Maine can
ming business. We learn of a general
over production of all canned foods
throughout the United States but 1t
| is hoped that the superior quality of
the Maine pack will result in a still
further development of the business
here as an outlet for some of our I'M
used farm land.
In general, apple values have ruled
low during the two or three years
past and apple growers are not shar-
ing the prosperity attending other
lines Of production. 1t must not be
inferred, however, that our orchard
alive to the needs Of their business.
Apple growers associations are
strongly established in many COM
munities and gratifying attention is
being given to the spraying and
pruning of orchards and to the pack
ing and grading of fruit. We shall not
always be faced with heavy yields of
New York and Middle State fruit
such as we are now encountering and
it is not too much to expect that the
Maine orchardists will again come in
to their own, and soon.
A normal production of oats in 1924
amounting to four and one half mill
lion bushels was followed by the I'M
precedented crop of six million one
hundred and sixty-five thousand
bushels harvested in 1925 at the
average state wide rate yield of
forty-flve thousand bushels harvest
ed in 1925 at the average state wide
rate yield of fortv-five bushels per
acre, seldom, If ever, equalled in this
or any other state. Wheat growing
which had steadily declined with us
after the war period was revived
somewhat with total yield of two
hundred and eighty six thousand
bushels in 1925. The fact that there
was expended by the farmers of
Maine in 1924 the enormous sum of
100000 for feeding materials
for fertilizer and farm labor combin-
ed, leads us to the recommendation
that our farmers give more attention
to the production of home grown
feeds. Unquestionably this burden
some tax We are paying to the pro-
ducers in other states, to dealers and
to transportation companies might be
reduced.
The poultry production Of our
State Is now approaching two million
birds with production Of fourteen
million dozen eggs. The number or
sheep kept shows for 1925. the first
sign Of increase displayed in many
years, and in general, poultry and
sheep husbandry have returned a
profit to those engaged.
Without Intentionally trespassing
upon the province of any other COM
mittee, we would offer these sugges-
lions with regard to legislation af-
fecting Agriculture to be considered
during the coming winter. Cndoubt-
eddy, the matter of uniform apple !
packing law for all New England will
claim the attention of our Legisla-
ture and such uniform regulation is
highly desirable if it can be brought
about without making too many con-
cessions to those who fail 20 or will
not realize that the future of the
New England apple growing industry
depends upon a raising rather than
a lowering of the standard of quality
and If such regulations nan be made
practical from an enforcement angle
The Maine Apple Packing law was
rewritten in 1925 and into it's fabric
vxrnr NJ fhor hiuI, o1c
as to grading and branding require
ments. Unquestionablv the Legisla
ture of 1927 will move slowly in maxi
ing new changes. We suggest that