REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 7 



THE OAT CROP. 



The oat crop is estimated at $2,301,000. That is an increase 

 from the crop of last year which is due in many cases to the 

 fact that on account of the cold, wet spring the farmers could 

 not put in the crop that they wished and were obliged to sow 

 oats as this crop could be taken care of later in the season. On 

 the whole the oat crop was a success, and it will enable the 

 farmer to use more oats in connection with his other grain in 

 feeding the dairy cow and other live stock. 



SWEET CORN. 

 Our sweet corn crop was very poor this year, being only about 

 40 per cent of a regular crop on account of the cold wet spring 

 of last year. This particular crop was more affected by the 

 cold, wet weather than any other grown. Last year we had the 

 largest crop that has ever been grown in the State, but the poor 

 crop of this year was a great setback to many of our farmers 

 and a loss to the packers. There were three new factories put 

 in operation last year. That means that INIaine sweet corn is 

 coming to the front. Like our apples, it has the flavor that 

 leads the country, and it is steadily gaining a fine market in 

 different parts of the L^ited States. Our farm.ers received in 

 1911 $1,025,000 for their crop, but this year they only received 

 a small percentage on account of such a poor sweet corn season. 



EIELD CORN. 

 The field corn crop was estimated at $480,000, which is a 

 slight increase from that of last year. More of our farmers 

 are growing corn and that is a great help to the State, as we 

 have been sending too much of our money to the Middle West 

 that might be kept at home by raising more corn, which can be 

 raised with profit on our farms. We are keeping more beef 

 cattle that can be fed corn meal to good advantage, so we can 

 have our native beef which is of more value to the consumer 

 than the cold storage beef shipped in from the West. 



WHEAT. 

 The wheat crop has dropped off since last year, as the result 

 of the condition of the weather in planting time. Some of the 



