ig2 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



weeds and disease, although taken as a whole the crops were 

 far in advance of what the average farmer was growing. The 

 potatoes, especially in Aroostook and Waldo Counties, were 

 infested w^ith blackleg. In talking with some of the growers in 

 regard to this disease they said that they had found it was 

 cheaper to stand the loss incurred by this disease than to treat 

 the seed before planting. This, no doubt, is true in a large ma- 

 jority of cases at the present time while the disease has not 

 gained much headway, but it seems to me that from the stand- 

 point of good seed production, this unwise practice should be 

 abandoned, because if !Maine, and particularly Aroostook 

 County, is to hold its prestige as a source of seed for southern 

 growers, this disease — blackleg — ^^which is so serious in the 

 South, should be stamped out before it has gained any more 

 headway. 



Also, in selling seed stock it should be true to name. Too 

 many farmers are apt to lose sight of this important fact, 

 with the result that Maine is going to suffer very materially 

 in years to come. The present time is feeling the effects of 

 this unwise practice. 



Light seeds in oats are very common and this condition 

 lowers the percentage of viability and must necessarily dimin- 

 ish the yield. Earlier planting, and more general use of the 

 fanning mill, will remedy this condition in a very large measure. 



Second : The seeds must be adapted to the locality in which 

 they are to be grown. Seeds from the southern part of the 

 state are not adapted to the climatic condition in the central or 

 northern part of the state. For this reason, the state has been 

 divided into zones, so that growers in different parts of the 

 state may know where to purchase seed that will grow well, 

 and mature. 



Third: Perhaps the most important essential of all, the 

 seed must be efficient. By efficiency, I mean power to produce 

 large yields. 



In studying the several varieties of grains grown throughout 

 the state, I find that there are nearly as many different varieties 

 of oats grown as there are growers. In too many cases there 

 is no knowledge of seed whatever, and no earnest disposition 

 to improve. 



