J/S AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Notwithstanding the teachings and demonstrations of im- 

 proved methods in management, care, and culture of the vari- 

 ous farm crops, by the various educational institutions and 

 agricultural ,press througliiou't the country, there has been 

 scarcely an appreciable increase in yields per acre, during the 

 last three or four decades. During these periods of agricultural 

 development, the attractiveness of the fertile lands of the 

 West, their low values, their high state of fertility, their low 

 cost of production, the large yields of superior grades 

 of grain, and the cheapness of transportation, all tended 

 to attract the eastern farmer westward. But now, 

 conditions have changed. The cost of land is rapidly 

 increasing; the great yields have not been generally 

 maintained. This, together with an increased population, 

 hag pushed the cost of .production upward, so that it seems that 

 the time is at hand when the eastern producer can compete 

 with his western brethren. If there is to be a development of 

 Maine's diversified farming, it becomes .necessary then that he 

 himself produce the various farm crops in sufficient quantities, 

 in so far, at least, as stock feed is concerned. 



The average ,annual market value of corn, wheat, oats, bar- 

 ley, buckwheat, potatoes, and hay, (produced in the state of 

 Maine, is estimated at about thirty-six millions of dollars. Any 

 improvement, therefore, that can be made in the choice of vari- 

 eties, by selection of seed, in the methods of cultivation, etc., 

 which would increase the value of these crops ten per cent per 

 annum, would thereby increase the total value of these crops 

 nearly four million dollars for the state. This, divided among 

 the sixty thousand farmers of the state, would increase the 

 revenue of each about sixty-seven dollars. This would be con- 

 sidered a very conservative estimate, as in many cases the 

 value would probably be increased twice this amount. 



All this increase would not be the direct result of an increase 

 per lacre. It would not only raise the standard of living, but it 

 would also, in a measure, relieve the labor situation. Smaller 

 areas would be made to prodfuce larger yields and a greater 

 profit. The producer would be induced to increase his acreage, 

 and thereby lessen the amount of hand labor by the introduc- 

 tion of improved machinery. With this would naturally be 

 an increased wage, and this would be an extra inducement to 

 labor on tlie farms. 



