AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



CROPS. 



Though the season was not favorable, as we had a very Hght 

 rain-fall for the year, the crops did remarkably well. 



Potatoes. Our potato crop takes the lead, and with a short 

 crop in other parts of the country, the farmers received a good 

 price for their potatoes. Nearly 30,000,000 bushels of potatoes 

 were grown in this State the past year, including those con- 

 sumed in the State. The average price was over $1.00 per 

 bushel, thus giving over $30,000,000 for the potato crop alone. 

 There was a great demand for potatoes for seed as well as for 

 commercial uses, and our potatoes are used for seed in many 

 parts of the United States, and are considered the best seed that 

 can be planted, thereby giving many of our farmers an advanced 

 price for seed potatoes. 



Hay. The crop of hay was not especially large, but owing 

 to the shortage in other parts of the country the value of the 

 crop was estimated at $31,500,000. The average price received 

 was about $14 per ton. but a large portion was consumed in 

 the State, thereby assisting in keeping up the fertility of the 

 farms. A large part of the hay consumed was turned into 

 dairy products, and a portion was used in raising beef and 

 dairy cattle, sheep and horses. This year quite a lot of hay was 

 sold in different parts of New England, as the crop was short 

 in almost all of the New England States. 



Apples. Our apple crop this year was about 3,000,000 bush- 

 els, at an average of 75 cents per bushel, making $2,225,000. 

 This crop can be improved, as the orchards must be cared for 

 so that we can raise better apples and demand better prices, 

 and add to the wealth of our State. There is no question about 

 raising apples, — the problem is to raise better apples and get 

 better prices and build up our reputation as a State producing 

 good apples and putting them on to the market in the proper 

 shape. This part has been neglected and I know of no other 

 way in which the value of our Maine grown apples can be more 

 increased than by the proper packing and the proper marketing 

 of our apple crop. 



Oats. The oat crop of this State was estimated to be worth 

 $1,500,000. Owing to the high price that oats have brought in 

 the market we were able to sell a large amount for seed, which 



