WESTERN COMPETITION. • 233 



and cultivate it, shock and husk the corn cannot be done in Kansas 

 an}^ cheaper than it can in Maine under the same conditions. 



Now, as we are dealing in average yields officially, let us take the 

 average jield of the State of Maine and see how large a farm we 

 would have to own to receive $2000 profit upon the same conditions 

 as the Kansas farm. The average yield of corn is given at 35 

 bushels, the same as Kansas. Now comes the most difficult part of 

 the question to settle — what does it cost to raise corn in Maine? I 

 am well aware that the figures I am going to give will not be ac- 

 cepted by all farmers, but I have noticed by experiments given by 

 farmers throughout our State, that the cost of raising corn has been 

 considerably reduced within the last few years. This last 3'ear I 

 kept an itemized account with five acres of 3'ellow corn and also two 

 acres of sweet corn. Tlie 3'ellow corn cost 33^ cents per bushel. 

 Our average yield, 35 bushels, would make an acre cost 811.62. 

 Corn was worth 60 cents upon the farm, and this gives us $21 for 

 the acre, and we have 89.38 cents profit per acre. This would re- 

 quire a farm of 213^ acres in Maine to be equal to a 1000 acre farm 

 in Kansas. 



How is it with sweet corn? This is a crop that Maine has the ad- 

 vantage in, on account of its reputation on the goods. Maine has 

 the reputation of producing the best quality of sweet corn of any 

 State in the country. It cost $97.60 to raise two acres, and the crop 

 sold for $141.22. This gives me $21.81 per acre profit. This would 

 require a nice little farm of 91 J acres to be equal to 1000 acres de- 

 voted to growing yellow corn in Kansas. 



These figures ma3' look somewhat strange, but they are drawn 

 from official statistics and practical experience, and they prove to be 

 correct. It is not in profit per acre or av^erage yield where the weste rn 

 farmer has the advantage over the Maine farmer. If there is any 

 advantage it is simpl3' in area, and I will leave that to your best judg- 

 ment to decide whether that is an advantage or not. I have never 

 yet seen a Maine farmer who could not do all the farming he wished 

 to. 



Potato crop. This crop needs no ventilation. There are onl3' two 

 States that show a larger yield per acre, and these are both New 

 England States. One exceeds Maine only five bushels, the other four. 

 Maine's average yield is 116 bushels. When the yield is lighter the 



