THE AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



319 



Another reason is, the generally received opinion that our soil 

 and climate cannot successfully compete with other States. This 

 objection has been so often and so persistently urged, that we 

 have too nearly accepted it with hardly a question of its truthful- 

 ness. The result has been a feeling of despondency in regard to 

 this great interest, and the diversion of large numbers of our 

 young men to other callings or driving them to other localities 

 supposed to be more favorable. 



This is an evil of so great magnitude, and has done so much to 

 hinder the increase and development of our State, that I ask your 

 careful attention to some facts, collated from the reports of the 

 agricultural departments of the United States for 1870. I have 

 taken the five largest crops, viz : corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and 

 hay, comparing the yield per acre, and the value per acre, with the 

 other New England States, and then with the six States outside of 

 New England which grow the largest amount of each particular 

 crop, with the following results : 



CORN. 



37 

 39, 



43 

 32 

 27. 

 30 



62 

 78 

 56 

 34 

 56 

 09 



6)210.95 



Av for Now England States, 35.16 

 Maine exceeds the average, 2.46 



being 



37.62 



Six largest corn growing States outside New England 



Iowa, average yield per acre, 32 bush. Valuo per acre. 



Ohio, 



Indiana, 



Illinois, 



Missouri, 



Kentucky, 



Average yield for six States, 

 Maine less than average yield, 



6)209.2 



34.9 

 1.9 



10. 

 18. 

 15. 

 12. 

 13. 

 15. 



72 

 01 

 32 

 81 

 40 



6)86.14 



Average value for six States, 14.36 

 Maine exceeds the av. value. 23.26 



33.0 



37.62 



