BOTANICAL 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF 



AGRICULTURE. 



In briefly reviewing the agricultural conditions of our State 

 for the past year, while there have been some discouraging 

 features, we see many indications of an upward trend in our 

 farm life. The farmers are more alert, more anxious to learn 

 new and improved methods, and are placing their farming on a 

 broader and more intelligent basis. They have had to contend 

 with some serious obstacles during the past year, such as 

 unfavorable weather conditions which materially affected some 

 of the crops, unusual insect depredations, etc.; but those who 

 have learned to anticipate these conditions by providing supple- 

 mental crops, by a system of rotation and fertilization which 

 tends to produce vigorous, drought resisting plants, and by 

 intelligent methods of combatting insect pests, have kept the 

 margin upon the right side, 



FARM CROPS. 



The short hay crop of 1908, the light yield of grains, and the 

 scarcity of feed occasioned by the severe drought and the 

 unusual infestation of grasshoppers, have emphasized the neces- 

 sity of providing more supplementary crops to meet this emer- 

 gency. This led the Department to issue a Bulletin on "Supple- 

 menting the Pastures and the Hay Crop," in September, which 

 contains many valuable suggestions. The personal experience 

 of the farmers who contributed to this Bulletin is worth much, 

 and the special articles by Prof. W. D. Hurd, Orono, B. Walker 

 McKeen,*Fryeburg, and F. S. Adams, Bowdoinham, are full of 

 instruction. 



The corn crop was of good quality, and the yield was above 

 the average. A special effort is being made all over the country 



