6 AGRICULTURi; OF MAINE). 



siderably less than in 1905. The quahty of this crop has been 

 improving from year to year, as the fruit growers of the State 

 are giving it more intelligent care. The other farm crops have 

 received their usual attention. Although in some sections the 

 acreage of tilled land has decreased, farmers as a rule are giving 

 each acre increased cultivation and attention, and are receiving 

 more for the amount of land worked and the time employed. 

 The average farmer within the past few years has been studying 

 more carefully the conditions of his soil and what it requires to 

 produce the best results, with the various crops ; and with the 

 increased knowledge which he is gaining, he understands better 

 how to control weather conditions and insect and plant diseases 

 than in former years. Science has also aided much in develop- 

 ing the plant food in the soil so that the plant may find ready 

 access to it in the early stages of its growth, and in the inven- 

 tion of labor saving machinery. 



OUR LIVi: STOCK. 



We believe the quality of the animals kept upon our farms 

 as a rule is continually improving. While we regret to learn 

 from the report of the Board of State Assessors for 1906 that 

 in several classes the numbers have decreased somewhat, yet 

 it is our opinion that the increase in individual value is such that 

 the total value of our farm stock has been increased. This 

 increase in value is especially noticeable in the case of our 

 dairy cows, and we are glad to know that the dairymen are 

 realizing more fully than formerly the necessity of improving 

 the quality of their cows, in order to obtain the best success in 

 their business. 



We regret to find that the number of sheep in Maine has fur- 

 ther decreased. We still feel that this industry offers many 

 inducements to our farmers. The product of the sheep, both in 

 wool and lambs, is bringing an increased price from year to 

 year. There is no branch of stock husbandry that the farmer 

 can engage in that is so sure of yielding a large profit as this 

 industry. 



The high price of poultry products during the past year has 

 given an encouraging aspect to the poultry industry, and this is 

 receiving increased attention. Many of our farmers are realiz- 



