144 



AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



financial condition of the grain raiser of the Northwest, the 

 general farmer of the Middle West, the cotton planter of the 

 South, is better than ever before. Instead of having to market 

 the grain as soon as harvested and the cotton as soon as picked 

 the producer is now in a position to hold his crop and market 

 it to the best possible advantage. Financially the farmer has 

 become independent. The rural free delivery and the telephone 

 have placed him in touch with the world, and he is as familiar 

 with current events as is the city dweller." 



The average prices of the principal farm jtroducts in March| 

 19 lo, and in March, 1896, show in a striking manner the farm- 

 er's condition at the present time as compared with his condi- 

 tion in 1896. All prices used in the following tables are taken 

 from Bulletin No. 39 and Bulletin No. 87 of the United States 

 Bureau of Labor. 



Product. 



1910, 

 March. 



1S96, 

 March. 



Advance Since 

 March, 1896. 



Actual 

 Advance. 



Per 

 Cent. 



Com, per bushel 



Wheat, per bushel 



Cotton, per pound 



Oats, per bushel 



Rye, per bushel 



Barley, per bushel 



Hay, timothy, per ton 



Hops, per pound 



Potatoes, per bushel 



Flaxseed, per bushel 



Cattle, choice to extra steers, per 100 lbs 



Hogs, heavy, per 100 lbs 



Butter, dairy, per pound 



Eggs, per dozen 



Milk 



$0,624 



1.187 



.150 



.447 



.791 



.693 



17,050 



. 3;.i0 



.321 



2.145 



8.190 



10.015 



.311 



.257 



.070 



$0 . 285 

 .631 

 .078 

 .192 

 .364 

 .305 



11.400 

 .075 

 .185 

 .885 

 4,250 

 3.902 

 ,198 

 .124 

 .050 



$0,338 



.556 



.072 



.254 



.426 



.387 



5.650 



.255 



.136 



1.260 



3.940 



6.712 



.112 



.133 



.020 



118.4 



88.1 



92.2 

 132.2 

 117.1 

 126.8 



49.5 

 340.0 



73.7 

 142.4 



92.7 

 172.0 



57.3 

 107.3 



40.0 



The price of these farm products practically doubled. 



Com advanced 118.4 per cent. 

 Wheat advanced 88.1 per cent. 

 Cotton advanced 92.2 per cent. 

 Hay advanced 49 . 5 per cent. 

 Hops advanced 340 per cent. 

 Potatoes advanced 73.7 per cent. 

 Flaxseed advanced 142.4 per cent. 

 Mill< advanced 40 per cent. 



Oats advanced 132.2 per cent. 

 Rye ailvanceil 117.1 per cent. 

 Barley ailvanoed 126, S per cent. 

 Fat cattle advanced 92,7 per cent. 

 Fat hogs advanccul 172 per cent. 

 Dairy butter advanced 57.3 per cent. 

 Eggs advanced 107.3 per cent. 



It must not be forgotten that the milk industry is a gigantic 

 industry, yet it received the smallest advance. "In the United 

 States the production of dairy farms ranks third in value, and 

 is exceeded only by corn and beef." 



