6 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



making between twenty-seven and twenty-eight million bushels. 

 The price received this year will not" come up to that received 

 last year, but they will bring a good average price, and the co- 

 operation of the Farmers' Exchange will enable the farmers to 

 secure better and surer prices. If the farmer could receive 50 

 cents per bushel delivered at the railroad station each year, he 

 could make a good profit on his crop. The demand for Maine 

 potatoes for seed is increasing in different parts of the country 

 and it would be well for the farmers that are a long distance 

 from the railroad to make an effort to grow good seed potatoes, 

 which would enable them to get better prices, and not sell their 

 potatoes for commercial use. The potato crop this year will 

 average the farmer about 60 cents per bushel. The vState Ex- 

 change has been of great assistance to the farmers in putting 

 their potato crop on to the market in better shape and receiving 

 more uniform and better prices. 



THE HAY CROP. 



The hay crop is estimated at $25,420,000. That is not quite so 

 large as the estimate of the crop for 191 1 but the quality is 

 superior to that of last year, making the value of the hay crop 

 for feeding purposes in the State as great, and on account of 

 the increase of all kinds of live stock (except horses), this will 

 be of great assistance in keeping up the fertility of our farms. 

 A large quantity of our hay is pressed and shipped out of the 

 State annually. 



APPLES. 



The apple crop this year has dropped off from that of last 

 year, being 2,400,000 bushels. It will bring on an average 50 

 cents per bushel to the growers. We hope the fruit growers 

 will continue to spray and care for their fruit trees and have 

 more apples that will be suitable for packing in boxes and get 

 better prices. I believe it is a mistake to allow apples from 

 outside our State to be shipped in nnd sold here when we have 

 the opportunity to grow splendid fruit, and the apples that are 

 shipped in, though they bring a very large price do not have 

 the delicious flavor of those grown in this State. The grower 

 must see that his fruit is properly packed and put on to the 

 market, so that it will be a credit to the grower and raise the 

 apple standard of our J^tate. 



