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ALBERT R. MANN 
 LIBRARY 
 
 New York State Colleges 
 
 OF 
 
 Agriculture and Home Economics 
 
 Cornell University 
 
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 'j'ai"|f Agricultural statistics; resources 
 
 3 1924 001 045 842 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924001045842 
 
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MAINE 
 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS 
 
 Resources and Opportunities 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 ISSUED BY 
 
 MAINE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
 
 A. W. GILMAN, Commissioner 
 AUGUSTA 
 
 AUGUSTA 
 
 KENNBBEC JOURNAI, PRINT 
 I9IO 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In submitting this book to the public, the Department of 
 Agriculture believes it is advisable to say a few words rela- 
 tive to its contents. The need of some definite information 
 regarding agricultural productions and resources of the State 
 has long been felt. The many inquiries which were continually 
 being received in this line, emphasized the importance of se- 
 curing such data as would give to the public a more intelligent 
 idea of our agriculture. The Maine Legislature of 1909 recog- 
 nized the need of this work and made an appropriation for 
 that purpose. In accordance with this act, the information 
 and data included in this book have been gathered and are 
 believed to be authentic. Every incorporated town in the State 
 has been visited by a representative and all estimates are based 
 on actual acreage and production of 12 per cent to 20 per cent of 
 the farms in each to'wn. The county -data have been estimated 
 from that of the towns. After compiling and tabulating this 
 information, a visit was made to a number of the most prom- 
 inent agriculturists in each county and matters such as general 
 opportunities, special advantages, interest taken by the farm- 
 ers, etc., were thoroughly discussed, and information in these 
 lines made a part of this report. 
 
 To the farmers of the State, this book should prove of great 
 value, as it will afford an opportunity to become better ac- 
 quainted with the crop production and resources. It is hoped 
 that a knowledge of these facts may encourage better methods 
 of farming and increase production. No state can offer a 
 more promising future to the farmers than Maine. Farm land 
 can be purchased at a reasonable price, and in some parts of 
 the State at a very low price. The opportunities are not limited 
 to one kind of farming, but they are diversified and offer an 
 inducement to one interested in any line of agriculture. Rail- 
 roads give excellent service, furnishing ample transportation 
 to home and outside markets. Maine's twenty cities and ex- 
 cellent summer resorts furnish a home market that is unsur- 
 passed. 
 
 A cordial welcome is extended to every person who desires 
 to become a citizen and make a home in Maine. 
 
AGRicri.irRAr. statistics of maine. 
 
 THE AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 
 
 By Dr. Geo. AI. Twitcliell, Auburn, Maine. 
 
 The geography of Maine is famihar to every student; the 
 agriculture of Maine is as yet an unknown quantity. Those 
 who have delved longest and most critically are the last to 
 set bounds. The years have brought only a growing conscious- 
 ness of what the State might do when its natural resources 
 are fairly organized for development. 
 
 Figures startle, but they also disappoint in that there re- 
 mains the consciousness that no complete returns are avail- 
 able. The fifty-eight thousand farms operated by the fifty- 
 four thousand farmers include all grades and conditions of 
 soil found in the East, from the hard granite hills of the west- 
 ern and northern to the red sandstone along our eastern border. 
 With all this variety of soil structure there is not a farm but 
 is, or might be, productive to a high degree, of some of the 
 leading crops of the State. This diversity in soil structure 
 is fully equalled by diversity in soil adaptation. If Aroostook 
 farmers run chiefly to potatoes, it is a matter of choice, not 
 necessity, for no section of country in all this nation will pro- 
 duce more or better wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat or 
 grass than that county. If the farmers of central Maine mag- 
 nify the fruit crop it is not because others cannot be profitably 
 grown, for there is no portion of all the United States where 
 corn, grain, potatoes or other crops will yield richer or better 
 harvests per acre than on these self-same hills. 
 
 The agricultural strength of Maine lies in its diversified 
 possibilities. There is no call here for a man to put his eggs 
 all in one basket, and if he d'oes this it is purely a matter of 
 choice. Maine cannot produce as many acres of corn as Iowa 
 or Kansas, but she can distance either in yield per acre. Maine 
 has not the prairies for pasturage, but she has the silos where 
 the succulent food there wasted can here be converted into 
 beef at a profit. The fact is, the men of Maine are not jet 
 alive to what the State can do. Through natural causes some 
 
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AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 5 
 
 I 
 
 of these farms have been left, but not in the history of the 
 State has a harvest so large, so varied, or so valuable been 
 gathered, as in 1910. The loss in acres has been more than 
 equalled by the increase in yield per acre. A few years ago 
 one hundred barrels of potatoes per acre was the standard of 
 excellence in the potato growing section. Today it is one hun- 
 dred and twenty-five to thirty. A few years ago sixty bushels 
 of shelled corn to the acre was thought the capacity of our 
 farms. This year many growers have reached eighty and 
 others have passed one hundred, and that, too, with only good 
 farm care and fertilization. Not long ago two hundred and 
 fifty pound cows were the level our dairymen were striving for. 
 Today one will hear all over the milk and cream sections of 
 the State, "I don't keep a cow which will not make three hun- 
 dred to three hundred and fifty pounds yearly;" or "There 
 is only one cow in my barn below the three hundred pound 
 mark and she must go for I cannot afford to keep her.'' This 
 is the situation which is becoming general all over Maine. As 
 a result the potato crop of 1910 will approximate thirty- 
 five million bushels, of which one-half are produced in Aroos- 
 took County. The peculiar adaptability of Maine soil to the 
 growing of potatoes is seen in the rapid increase, both in vol- 
 ume per acre and in total output. Ten years ago Aroostook 
 County produced very nearly all the potatoes grown tor mar- 
 ket in Maine, whereas today all the older counties are rapidly 
 increasing the acreage and fully equalling Aroostook 
 in productiveness. On the banks of the Androscoggin, 
 one farmer has taken 3,350 bushels from ten acres, the best two 
 and one-half acres giving him 1,000 bushels of sound potatoes. 
 On the hills of Kennebec County six acres gave 2,750 bushels, 
 with practically no decayed potatoes. In fact, in all the coun- 
 ties it has been no uncommon thing to record three hundred 
 bushels per acre. Compare this with the boast of a western 
 state paper, of sixty acres yielding 6,000 bushels. The high- 
 est state yield outside of Maine is New York, where the aver- 
 age is 125 bushels per acre. Here it has been two hundred 
 and twenty-five bushels for years, and the average is steadily 
 increasing. Maine is yet to be the great potato growing state 
 of all the East and the extent of the increase is beyond present 
 computation. 
 
O AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 Potatoes need a cool, moist climate for perfection, yet so 
 completely are the conditions balanced that Maine sweet corn 
 is everywhere recognized as the choicest in quality of any 
 grown in all the country. This industry, founded in Maine 
 fifty years ago, has steadily increased until the output of our 
 factories this year exceeded 1,200,000 cases, or more than 
 28,000,000 cans. Years ago the price paid was one cent and a 
 half per pound for cut corn, but gradually this has increased 
 until in 1910 the farmers realized 2]/^ cents, and next year they 
 will get 2^2 cents per pound. Through a system of critical 
 selection of seed and a more thorough method of growing, 
 corn which formerly cut twenty-six to thirty pounds to the 
 bushel has this year cut from thirty-five to forty pounds. The 
 average realized by the growers this year has been practically 
 $70 per acre, against $45 in 1906 and 1907. In all the history 
 of the industry there has not been a year when the yield of 
 cut corn per hundred pounds of ears has been as heavy as 
 in 1910. A life long grower writes: "I believe with proper 
 care and culture, every farmer ought to get from $90 to $120 
 per acre. We have not yet learned our full duty to the sweet 
 corn crop." .\.s the farmers have the stalks in most succu- 
 lent condition for the silo, the husks and cobs to haul back 
 home from the factories, the best growers estimate that the 
 cost is largely covered by the fodder plus the improved con- 
 dition of the land. Beyond this we have a phenomenal record 
 by growers all over the sweet corn territory. Not a factory 
 but has paid some of the patrons at the rate of one hundred 
 dollars or more per acre for cut corn at the factory. One 
 man with two-thirds of an acre realized $99.84, another from 
 one acre and seventy-three rods carried home $206.00 or 
 $141 per acre. Still another from his acre got $150, and one 
 man from eight measured acres received $927. These illustra- 
 tions stand, for they are well authenticated and furnish abund- 
 ant evidence in support of the claim of Maine as a corn grow- 
 ing State. It m.ust be remembered that sweet corn is not as 
 sure a crop as yellow corn, and this makes the record the more 
 remarkable. 
 
 Out of the combined influence of the workers a great up- 
 lift in flint corn production has been witnessed and the acre- 
 age has been largely increased. Maine is not adapted to 
 dent corn culture, but flint corn gives sure returns. These 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. / 
 
 have been increasing in recent years as greater attention has 
 been paid to cultivation, fertilization, and especially the se- 
 lection of seed, until this year some growers have even ex- 
 ceeded the one hundred bushel mark. This means an uplift 
 to the average of the State which must place it first in the 
 list. The writer this year grew one hundred and nineteen and 
 one-tenth bushels of shelled corn from one acre, the variety 
 being a hybrid which he is perfecting. 
 
 That Maine has always been a great hay state is a matter 
 of history. That the aCre yield is being increased by the pro- 
 gressive farmers is a fact. Whether on the higher levels, the 
 rocky side hills or the clay valleys, grass flourishes wherever 
 cultivated, and constitutes a crop of immense value to the State. 
 
 It is when we pass over to the orchards that we find the pe- 
 cuHar field for greatly increased work in Maine. Trees spring- 
 wild all over the fruit belt and thrive wherever given an op- 
 portunity. If in past years there has been a measure of neglect, 
 there surely is to be seen an awakening in every direction^ 
 the result being a phenomenal increase in the number of apple 
 trees set in 1910. The trees now of bearing age would easily 
 produce twice the present yield if properly pruned, fertilized,, 
 sprayed and protected. The fact that the crop just going to- 
 market is the cleanest ever harvested is the best proof of that 
 new interest which will insure increasing orchards and a more 
 uniform grade of choice fruit. 
 
 It is fast becoming apparent that there is no surer invest- 
 ment than an orchard on the hillsides of Maine. Many -acres 
 set to standard fruit will, by the time the trees are ten years 
 old, pay all expenses to that date, and from that time on net 
 six per cent on five hundred to one thousand dollars an acre. 
 Good land, well adapted for orchard growing, can today be 
 purchased for twenty-five dollars an acre, making this an at- 
 tractive field for the investor, — far more certain, far more 
 secure, far more profitable, than far off mines or orange groves. 
 
 Passing down the list, the story of all small fruits must 
 be in full harmony with yield in other lines. Reports before 
 me tell' of five, six and seven hundred dollars per acre in straw- 
 berries, a yield which insures a profit which satisfies. 
 
 The cabbage industry, which means so much to Southern 
 Cumberland, and Lincoln County, or the cranberry bogs so 
 inviting and profitable to the growers of the eastern portion,. 
 
8 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE, 
 
 and the blueberry fields of Washington County, with their 
 great revenue, bear further testimony to the variety of products 
 adapted to Maine farms, all insuring ample returns. 
 
 When we pass from the field of production to that of con- 
 version Maine moves at once to the front, placed there by the 
 influence of the sweet cream industry and watchful care of 
 the State Agricultural Department. While the sweet cream 
 trade has been growing for years, the coming of the cow 
 test association and the enthusiasm injected by the State Dairy 
 Instructors and their assistants, have put this industry in an 
 impregnable position, where profits are sure to every dairy- 
 man who tries to live up to the light given him. Today through 
 the active efforts of a live Breeders' Association, there is prom- 
 ise of further increase of all the dairy herds. The year 1910 
 closes with the dairymen united for work along most exacting 
 lines, the sheep breeders organized to protect, promote and 
 strengthen the flocks of the State, the poultry growers being 
 organized for systematic work in breeding and feeding for 
 heavier production, and the Maine Live Stock Association alive 
 to the opportunity for developing in every way possible, the 
 merits of all the breeds. 
 
 The past ten years have witnessed a complete revolution in 
 the agricultural sentiment of the State, and the history of those 
 years, from 1902 to 1911, when fully written, will be full of 
 credit for the men who have' inaugurated the measures which 
 today place us on the threshhold of great opportunities. In 
 these years we have seen the establishment of a department 
 under a competent State Dairy Instructor, which today pro- 
 tects the consumers in every town and city by keeping a rec- 
 ord of every milk and cream dealer, and by frequently sampling 
 the product as well as inspecting the barns and herds. This is 
 steadily raising the standard of production through personal 
 oversight over all cow test associations, and has been the main- 
 spring in starting the wheels of the several breeders' and seed 
 improvement associations. In addition, an entomological de- 
 partment has been established, a wise and competent officer 
 placed in control, and a service of inestimable value done the 
 State by awakening the people to the dangers from insect pests 
 and to a- knowledge of their habits and means of prevention and 
 destruction. Beyond all this, the arousing of the people of Maine 
 to the imporatnce of more and better work in our orchards and 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. Q 
 
 the increase of the same but illustrates what has been aimed at 
 in every direction in the broader work of the department. 
 
 This revolution does not as yet show itself so much in great- 
 er operations as in the purpose to grasp more completely the 
 fundamental lessons, but in the thoroughness manifested in 
 every line of work there is sure promise of substantial ad- 
 vance. 
 
 The effective campaigns of these several years will bear 
 fruit for many more to come and prove the wisdom and the 
 thoroughness of work of faithful officials. If wisdom pre- 
 vails and this chain of influence is not disturbed, the next 
 ten years will witness a substantial advance along all agricul- 
 tural lines, a decided increase in all the crops grown and an 
 era of prosperity for rural Maine not realized in all the past. 
 The greatest asset of the State is its farms and that asset has 
 within its grasp the possibility of great extension. Of all the 
 states Maine holds out the most attractive prospects for tht 
 man who would seek health, comfort, happiness and good liv- 
 ing from the land. All along the line the influences are 
 strengthening and if, by united effort, the cry of Maine for 
 Maine is persistently raised and repeated, the permanent pros- 
 perity of our agriculture will certainly be realized. 
 
lO ACRICILTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 iAEAlNE DAIRYING. 
 
 By R. W. Redman, State Dairy Instructor. 
 
 Dairying in Alaine has advanced rapidly during the last 
 few years, though a shortage of crops in the summers of 1907 
 and igo8 caused a decrease in the total number of cows in 
 the State. There is an increasing demand for milk, cream, 
 butter, cheese and dairy stock, at good prices. Maine enjoys 
 an extra good market for sweet cream; a market which will 
 take care of all that can be produced with a much larger num- 
 ber of cows than we have at the present time. Milk and cream 
 are both being shipped in large quantities to southern New 
 England for consumption — both raw and pasteurized. Some 
 butter is being made in private dairies, but the demand is far 
 greater than the supply. Only a few dairies in Maine are 
 making cheese. Some of the cheese makers received in. the 
 fall of 1910, 25c. per lb. for plain cheese and 26c. per lb. for 
 sage and tansy cheese, with an active market. Dairy stock 
 is scarce, very good prices being paid for milking cows, while 
 young stock sells readily. 
 
 The people are much more interested in dairying than they 
 were a few years ago, on account of better prices and a broad- 
 er knowledge of the necessities for successful dairying ; they 
 understand their cows better ; they are making their stables 
 more comfortable, admitting more light and using more white- 
 \\ash; they are using better judgment in feeding. The num- 
 ber of silos has increased rapidly, and on the whole the peo- 
 ple are paying much more attention to the details of their work, 
 and as a result, getting a greater profit. On account of a better 
 knowledge of dairying, different cropping systems are being- 
 carried out on the farms, so the rotation of crops gives more 
 food for dairy stock. A large number of the dairymen are 
 raising soiHng crops to supplement the summer pastures ; many 
 of them have already installed a summer silo to assist them dur- 
 ing a shortage of summer feed. 
 
 The work of the Cow Test Associations and the Dairy Cat- 
 
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AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. II 
 
 tie Breeders' Associations has been an important factor in 
 spreading a knowledge of dairying and encouraging the men 
 to pay more attention to the details of their work. To use the 
 words of one prominent dairyman, "The whole standard of 
 dairying is being raised by the work of the Testing Associa- 
 tions." The active co-operation of the University of Maine 
 with the Department of Agriculture has done a great deal to 
 assist in the work of these Associations for the improvement of 
 the dairy cow and dairy methods. We need more of such 
 work ; also, we need to have more of the young men attending 
 the courses in dairying given at the University of Maine. 
 
 On the whole, conditions for dairy work are very good and 
 the prospects for the future are bright. There is no arrange- 
 ment of farming which, in the long run, will allow a man to 
 continually crop his land and not keep some kind of live stock. 
 All farms in the State are not adapted to dairying, neither are 
 all the farmers so adapted, but on a large majority of the farms 
 dairying can be carried on, not only to the future success of 
 agriculture on his acres, but also to the immediate profit of the 
 dairyman. 
 
12 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF JIAIXE. 
 
 THE LIVE STOCK INDUSTRY OF MAINE. 
 
 By P. A. Campbell, 
 
 Professor of Animal Industry, U. of ^L, Orono. 
 
 Any system of farming that necessitates using a large por- 
 tion of the profit derived from selling the raw products from 
 the farm to buy back the fertility thus sold, in order to grow 
 another crop, is bound to be a failure sooner or later. The farm 
 or the farmer that will continue to do business year after year 
 in Maine is the one that sells just as near as possible, the 
 furnished product to the consumer. Everything necesary for 
 the maintenance of the home and of the live stock on the farm 
 should be produced within the borders of the farm as near as 
 possible. 
 
 The roughage that is necessarily grown on the farm in the 
 general rotation of crops finds a ready market at remunerative 
 prices when changed into draft horses, beef, mutton, pork or 
 dairy products. More grain, root crops and corn silage grown 
 on the farm and fed to the animals on the farm will help to keep 
 the farmers in better condition, and insure to them a steady 
 income. 
 
 A keener understanding of business details and a greater 
 knowledge of the technical, as well as the practical side of the 
 operations are more essential than with a single crop system. 
 Aside from growing the crops to be fed the animals, a knowl- 
 edge of breeding, feeding, and care of sick animals is essential. 
 
 There are two lines of stock breeding that can be followed. 
 One is producing breeding stock, which is sold to other breed- 
 ers to replenish their herds and flocks, and to help them to 
 grade up their stock. The other is to produce animals for work, 
 for supplying meat and dairy products. 
 
 The former method is perhaps the more remunerative but 
 demands greater skill on the part of the breeder, and his obli- 
 gations to the public are many, for if he is not careful in select- 
 ing the breeding stock which he sends out, he will be a detri- 
 ment to the industry, and his reputation will be of short dura- 
 tion. 
 
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AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. IJ 
 
 The latter method consists of furnishing the animals for mar- 
 ket, to be used at once for work or for consumption. 
 
 It is true that there are depressions in the live stock market 
 as there are in all other industries, but if the history of the live 
 stock world is reviewed it will be found that the breeder who 
 has remained steadily in the business has alw'ays won out, and 
 when others are going out it is the time to remain in, as higher 
 prices are sure to follow. 
 
 Horses: The automobile, auto-truck and traction engine 
 have not taken the place of the horse as has been prophesied 
 that they would do, but rather have tended to supplement the 
 work of the horse and make it possible for the supply of horses 
 to keep up nearer to the ever increasing demand. Here in 
 Maine the lumber interests, the shipping interests and the farm- 
 ing operations, demand a large number of draft horses annually. 
 To supply these needs, large numbers are shipped into the State 
 )'early at a heavy expense to the State of Maine. These horses 
 are raised on land that has a high value placed upon it. They 
 pass through the hands of fatteners, commission men, and ship- 
 pers so that by the time they reach their field of work, several 
 profits have already been made on them, and the price actually 
 paid by the consumer is far in excess of the money the producer 
 received. There is no reason why a large part of the horses 
 needed in Maine should not be raised on the Maine farms. 
 
 Good draft stallions of a recognized breed bred to the mares 
 of draft type already on the farm will produce as good work- 
 ing stock as can be purchased in the market, and at much less 
 cost. After a few years, they should be much better, as they 
 become higher grades and take on a uniformity of type. 
 
 The high class carriage horse and gentleman's driver should 
 not be left put of a discussion of this kind, because as long as 
 man and horse endure there will always be a demand for them, 
 and no mechanical contrivance will ever be able to thrill the 
 operator as do the lines passing from the bit in a spirited 
 horse's mouth to the hands of the driver. The type, style and 
 education of a horse of this kind mean everything, and their 
 production is the result of the skill of the breeder in selecting- 
 the breeding stock, and in being able to grow and train the colt 
 ready for the trade. The demand is always far in excess of the 
 svtpply. 
 
 Beef cattle: A breaking of all the large tracts of the West 
 
14 AGRICULTURAL STATISTRS OF .^L\ll\l';. 
 
 into smaller farms and homesteads has resulted in forcing to 
 market large numbers of cattle in an unfinished condition, and 
 many that ought to have been kept for breeding purposes. As 
 this work continues and the population increases it must neces- 
 sarily result in a greater scarcity of beef, and higher prices. 
 Maine is far better adapted than many other states to taking 
 care of the needs of her people in this respect, because there is 
 much land that is not now utilized, that can be used for beef 
 making, and the time is not far distant when this will be the 
 case. 
 
 Dairx cattle: There was never a time in history when 
 dairy cattle commanded more money in the market and were 
 harder to buy than at the present time. There is room and a 
 need for far more than there are at present. The breeding 
 end alone is profitable, and at the same time there is a profit 
 to be derived from the dairy side. More cows, better cows, and 
 the use of more pure bred sires is the crying need at the present 
 time. The Testing Associations and Breeders' Associations are 
 helping to solve this problem in a small way, but are far too 
 restricted in their area. 
 
 Sheep: Several thousand tons of wool are anually shipped 
 into the State for the manufacturers. Mutton and lamb are sent 
 in to be consumed by the Maine people. There ought to be ten 
 times as many sheep in the State as are now kept. On many 
 farms enough goes to waste to feed from ten to twenty- 
 five head, where none are now kept. They eat more weeds than 
 any other domestic animal, they distribute the fertility evenly 
 over the farm, and would help to bring many of the so-called 
 worn-out farms to a higher state of fertility, and greater useful- 
 ness, besides giving steady returns to the owner. 
 
 Swine: The number of hogs kept on our Maine farms is far 
 too small. They have the power of turning the skim-milk from 
 the dairy, and other waste products of the farm and home, into 
 a money value. But a small percentage of the pork eaten in 
 
 Maine is produced here. The use of forage crops, — pastures 
 
 and more suitable quarters for them should make swine one of 
 the sure money crops now on the farm. They have the advant- 
 age that less capital is required to start in swine breeding, and 
 the returns come quickly. 
 
 On the whole there are excellent opportunities for the pro- 
 duction of more live stock and profitable returns for intelligent 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTIt'S OF MAINE. I5 
 
 live stock husbandry. There is a good demand for ordinary 
 animal products and an extra demand for first-class goods bear- 
 ing the producer's mark. To appreciate the opportunities for 
 growing live stock, one has only to .study Maine conditions. 
 
l6 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 MAINE SCHOOLS. 
 
 By Payson Smitii^ State Superintendent of Schools. 
 The State of Maine holds a foremost position among the 
 states in the support of education and in the superior oppor- 
 tunities offered to the youth. 
 
 Elementary Schools. 
 
 The most important part of any school system is the "common 
 school," that institution which provides the foundation of all 
 other education. To this part of the school system Maine pays 
 special attention. Divided as the population is into urban, vil- 
 lage and rural communities it has been the purpose of the State 
 to secure, as far as possible, equality of opportunity. To this 
 end it has been the policy of the State to raise a large part of 
 the school tax directly through the State, distributing annually 
 the fund thus secured in a manner which the legislature believed 
 would equalize school opportunity. 
 
 For the year 191 1 the sum distributed by the State to the 
 several cities, towns and plantations for common school pur- 
 poses alone will amount to $1,501,435.56. This sum supple- 
 mented by $962,683 raised by towns must be expended only for 
 teachers' wages, tuition and conveyance of pupils, janitors' 
 services and fuel. In addition to this total, towns raise other 
 amounts for the purchase of text books, which the law requires 
 shall be furnished to pupils free of cost, and for schoolhouse 
 repairs. 
 
 All towns of the State are required to conduct common 
 schools for at least twenty-six weeks each year. As a matter of 
 fact nearly all towns have schools much in excess of the legal 
 requirement, the average for the whole state for the year 1909- 
 1910 being thirty-one weeks and two days. 
 
 The State has one of the most advanced compulsory education 
 laws, all persons between the ages of seven and fifteen beino- 
 required to attend school while schools are in session, with the 
 additional requirement, recently made, that attendance may be 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 17 
 
 compelled to the seventeenth birthday unless a minimum educa- 
 tional test can be met. According to a recent statement of Mr. 
 Leonard P. Ayers of the Russell Sage Foundation, pupils 
 average to remain in school longer in Maine than in any other 
 state of the New England group. 
 
 The State supports five Normal schools for the training of 
 teachers. These schools are located at Gorham, Farmington, 
 Castine, Presque Isle and Machias. A sixth school, the Mada- 
 waska Training School at Fort Kent, serves to prepare teachers 
 for the scihools of the Madawaska Territory. 
 
 There is no expense to persons taking the courses ofifered by 
 the State schools provided they agree to teach in Maine for a 
 period equal to that of attendance. The schools graduate annu- 
 ally about two hundred teachers. 
 
 Not only the city schools of Maine, but those of rural towns 
 are being rapidly brought under expert school supervision. By 
 a liberal provision of the law towns are permitted to join for 
 the employment of trained superintendents. When towns so 
 join liberal aid is given by the State. At the close of the school 
 year of 1909 one hundred eighty-four towns and cities with a 
 total of two thousand seven hundred eight schools had arranged 
 for the employment of persons giving their entire time to school 
 supervision. By this arrangement rapid advance has already 
 been made and is further assured in economical and business- 
 like school administration, in more systematic arrangement of 
 courses, in more skillful direction of teaching and in more care- 
 ful attention to the needs of pupils. 
 
 The elementary school system of Maine, like that of other 
 New England States, recognizes the nine grade division. 
 Nearly all village and city schools follow systematic courses of 
 study. The rural schools while recently showing a hopeful ten- 
 dency to recognize the special needs of country children are like- 
 wise recognizing the necessity of proper classification of pupils 
 and a reasonable degree of system. With more pupils enrolled 
 in rural schools than in any other class, Maine citizens and edu- 
 cators are giving increased attention to the creation of the high- 
 est possible standard of rural school service. With this atten- 
 tion there is little reason to doubt that Maine will keep step 
 -with advanced progress in rural education. 
 
 The total schooLenrollment in all elementary schools of Maine 
 
l8 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 for the year 1909-1910 was 132,592. Of this number 35,715 
 were enrolled in city schools; 44^763 in village schools; and 
 52,114 in country schools. 
 
 To teach these children there were employed 6,905 different 
 teachers, of whom 6,289 were women. 
 
 Secondary Schools. 
 
 The development of the secondary schools of Maine has beei^ 
 a source of just pride to the citizens of the State. Like other 
 eastern states this system had its beginning in the academies-, 
 which were first supported by private benefactions and by tui- 
 tion. In 1873, however, the State authorized the establishment 
 of free public high schools and offered aid for their support. 
 Since that date the academy and the high school have flourished 
 side by side, each aided by the State and each vying with the 
 other in the excellence of the privileges offered. In 1903 fur- 
 ther secondary schools legislation provided that pupils resident 
 of towns not supporting high schools should, when properly 
 qualified, attend the schools of other towns and have their tui- 
 tion paid jointly by their home towns and by the State. This 
 provision was the final step in placing Maine among the few 
 states which make educational privileges free to all pupils up 
 to the point of entrance to college. 
 
 For the support of secondary education the towns of the State 
 expended for the school year ending July i, 1910, upwards of 
 three hundred thousand dollars, the academies one hundred and 
 seventy-five thousand dollars and to these- amounts the State 
 added approximately one hundred and twenty-five thousand 
 dollars, making a total of over six hundred thousand dollars 
 spent for the support of secondary education. 
 
 There were in attendance upon these secondary schools 15,684 
 young men and women following variously English, college 
 preparatory, commercial, agricultural, manual training and 
 domestic science courses. 
 
 Among the forty-eight academies it would be invidious to 
 select any for special mention. Several have enjoyed prosper- 
 ous existence for over a hundred years and many offer to their 
 students the advantages of the most excellent equipment of 
 buildings to be found anywhere. The public high schools have 
 won the support and favor of the people and from the humble 
 schools of two teachers to the large city institutions of several 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. I9 
 
 hundreds of students, all are rendering efficient service to the 
 communities that support them. 
 
 It is a noteworthy fact that in fourteen of the counties of the 
 State secondary school opportunities are within a ten mile 
 radius of practically the entire population, while in none of them 
 are such privileges greatly distant from a majority of the pupils. 
 In view of the large undeveloped areas of the State this fact 
 is of special importance to prospective residents who properly 
 seek information regarding school opportunities before deter- 
 mining a place of residence. 
 
 Collegiate Institutions. 
 
 There are in Maine, four institutions of collegiate grade. 
 One of these, the University of Maine, is able, through the 
 generous support of the State, to offer at a low cost superior 
 educational advantages. The others, Bowdoin College, Colby 
 College and Bates College, through their liberal endowments 
 and generous policies, are able to give similar privileges; like- 
 wise, at a minimum of expense. 
 
 Bowdoin College at Brunswick, was chartered by the mother 
 State of Massachusetts in 1794. It has a distinguished list of 
 alumni, including statesmen, authors, scientists and men of 
 affairs. Including its Medical College it has a faculty of sixty- 
 three and a student body of 419. The college has stood for a 
 broad and liberal educational policy and has been a potent influ- 
 ence in the life not only of the State, but of the entire nation. 
 
 Colby College at Waterville chartered by the State of Maine 
 in 1820, takes high standing among the colleges of New Ehg- 
 land. It early recognized the demand for collegiate courses for 
 women and since 1871 both men and women have been admitted 
 on equal terms. The College now provides for the separation 
 of the students into divisions for men and women with equal 
 privileges for each division. For the year 1909-1910 the Col- 
 lege had a faculty membership of twenty-one and a student 
 membership of two hundred ninety-eight. 
 
 Bates College at Lewiston was chartered by the State of 
 Maine in 1863. It has a faculty of twenty-two and a student 
 body of four hundred sixty-one. Bates College has rendered 
 illustrious service in many fields but special recognition is due 
 it for the service it has given to the public schools. Probably 
 
20 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 no Other New England college has directly enlisted so large a 
 proportion of its graduates in the field of service covered by 
 the public schools. Its list of efficient teachers, principals and 
 school superintendents is noteworthy, not only for its length, 
 but for the high standard of service rendered by them. 
 
 The University of Maine, chartered in 1865 as the "State 
 College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts" was founded as 
 the result of the "Morrell Act" by which the United States 
 Government sought to encourage the establishment by the 
 states of institutions in which there should especially be taught 
 "such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the 
 mechanic arts, without excluding other scientific and classical 
 studies." 
 
 The University of Maine is supported by the income from 
 the sale of public lands given to the State by the National 
 Government, by the income of certain bequests, by appropria- 
 tions of Congress, by the appropriations of the State and by 
 the fees and tuitions of students. 
 
 The University has enjoyed a very rapid growth, its recent 
 percentage of growth having been exceeded by no other sim- 
 ilar institution of the eastern states. Its student body in all 
 departments for the year 1909-1910 numbered eight hundred 
 and fifty, classified as follows : College of Arts and Sciences, 
 one hundred eighty-four; College of Agriculture, one hun- 
 dred fifty-eight ; College of Technology, three hundred eighty- 
 six ; College of Pharmacy, twenty-one ; College of Law, one 
 hundred one. Its faculty membership was ninety-three. 
 
 In the liberal support of higher education by tlie people 
 and in the large student enrollment in the colleges of the State 
 is to be found evidence of the same popular faith in education 
 that the citizens of Maine have placed in the entire school 
 system. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 21 
 
 MAINE. 
 
 By Thomas J. Lyons, Com. of Industrial and Labor Statistics. 
 
 Maine, the play ground of the nation, entertains more sum- 
 mer visitors than any other territory, of equal area, in the 
 country and is embracing every legitimate facility for increas- 
 ing her prestige as a recreation ground. Already the railroad, 
 automobile, motor boat, steamer and sail boat have been en- 
 listed to combine pleasure with transportation to Maine. Im- 
 proved service at hotels, both year-round and summer, is con- 
 stantly attracting a better class of guests. Telephone, tele- 
 graph and rural delivery render communication with the out- 
 side world convenient and continuous. Bath rooms, hot and 
 cold water, and other luxurious appointments of the hotels and 
 cottages enable visitors to be as comfortable and contented as 
 in their winter establishments. Good roads are a standing 
 invitation to the motorist and horse lover to journey among our 
 beautiful villages and farms for pleasure. Yachting meetings, 
 base ball, golf, bowling and other sports of the summer season 
 furnish entertainment among the colonies where the cottagers 
 come early in spring and stay until late in the fall. 
 
 Maine is plentifully supplied with bathing beaches, ranging 
 from the magnificent stretch of sand as hard as asphalt at Old 
 Orchard to the small resorts like Crescent Beach in Knox Coun- 
 ty and Bowery Beach on Cape Elizabeth. Old Orchard has 
 been a big resort for lovers of surf bathing and cool ocean 
 breezes for many years and has lost none of its charm since 
 swept by fire. In fact the new Old Orchard is much more 
 attractive in many respects than was the old. 
 
 At the mouth of the Kennebec is Popham Beach, one of the 
 best on the coast. Its development has not been as extensive as 
 that of Old Orchard, but doubtless in the near future its beau- 
 ties will be better appreciated. All along the coast there are 
 smaller beaches which offer as fine, though more limited, bathing 
 facilities as do Old Orchard and Popham, while nearly every 
 mile of coast line contains a sandy cove or little beach among 
 the rocks. 
 
22 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 Maine property used wholly for recreation, that is, summer 
 cottages, hotels, club houses and camps, with their contents, 
 have a cash value of approximately $50,000,000. This great 
 investment, which demands little in the way of municipal im- 
 provement, pays taxes on a valuation of about $16,000,000. 
 Compensation for the valuation Hes in the fact that whatever 
 taxes are paid, are very largely a net profit to the townspeople. 
 
 According to statistics gathered from the assessors of the 
 several cities and towns by the Bureau of Industrial and Labor 
 Statistics in 1909, summer property was valued at 195,055 in 
 Androscoggin county, of which $21,915 was owned outside the 
 State, $22,640 was owned within the State and $150,500 con- 
 sisted of hotels used exclusively for summer guests. The sum- 
 mer property reported from Aroostook consisted of $1,400 
 owned outside the State, $15,400 owned within the State and 
 $10,708 in hotels, a total of $27,508; in Cumberland, $983,895 
 owned outside the State, $1,167,030 owned within the State 
 and $353,850 in hotels, a total of $2,504,775 ; in Franklin, $134,- 
 000 owned outside the State, $48,770 owned within the State 
 and $108,325 in hotels, a total of $291,095; in Hancock, $4,- 
 418,706 owned outside the State, $761,604 owned within the 
 State and $346,804 in hotels, a total of $5,527,114; in Kenne- 
 bec, $106,435 owned outside the State, $109,570 owned within 
 the State and $80,100 in hotels, a total of $296,105; in Knox, 
 $967,199 owned outside the State, $75,210 owned within the 
 State and $196,855 in hotels, a total of $1,239,264; in Lincoln, 
 $539,735 owned outside the State, $174,985 owned within the 
 State and $110,890 in hotels, a total of $825,610; in Oxford, 
 $85,105 owned outside the State, $57,975 owned within the 
 State and $73,588 in hotels, a total of $216,668 ; in Penobscot, 
 $6,775 owned outside the State, $56,305 owned within the State 
 and $4,400 in hotels, a total of $67,480; in Piscataquis, $13,- 
 660 owned outside the State, $24,790 owned within the State 
 and $10,650 in hotels, a total of $49,100; in Sagadahoc, $173,- 
 581 owned outside the State, $86,705 owned within the State 
 and $56,600 in hotels, a total of $316,886; in Somerset, $16,- 
 975 owned outside the State, $29,105 owned within the State 
 and $17,625 in hotels, a total of $63,705 ; in Waldo, $696,410 
 owned outside the State, $151,471 owned within the State and 
 $36,350 in hotels, a total of $884,231 ; in Washington, $64,904 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 23 
 
 owned outside the State, $26,283 owned within the State and 
 $17,600 in hotels, a total of $108,787; in York, $1,931,388 owned 
 outside the State, $302,230 owned within the State and $660,- 
 230 in hotels, a total of $2,893,848; a grand total of $10,162,- 
 083 owned outside the State, of $3,110,073 owned within the 
 State and $2,235,075 in hotels, in all $15,507,231 worth of prop- 
 erty, divided into 10,372 parcels. To these should be added 
 seven hotels and club houses on wild land townships, valued 
 at $278,000; 105 sporting camps worth $318,150 and 27 camps 
 owned by registered guides and worth $81,810, a total of $677,- 
 960. If the summer property in organized towns is returned 
 by the assessors at 50 per cent of its real value (a by no means 
 unreasonable supposition) the real value must be at least $31,- 
 014,462, or, of the cottages at least, $26,544,312. Allowing one- 
 half the outlay for real estate and buildings as a fair estimate 
 of the value of the furnishings, there is an additional invest- 
 ment of $13,272,156 for that item in the cottages, or a total of 
 $15,507,231 in all, which, with the sporting camps, club houses 
 and hotels on wild lands, and the furnishings therein makes a 
 grand total of about $47,500,000. Any one familiar with the 
 vast extent of the recreation industry will admit these figures 
 to be conservative and will further grant that the spread of 
 the summer cottage idea is so rapid that the statistics will need 
 revision "upward" each succeeding year. Great as the move- 
 ment is at the present time, we have only seen its beginning. 
 
 Leading officials of transportation companies estimate that 
 the average yearly income from summer visitors and tourists 
 is $25,000,000. This great sum is brought into Maine and spent 
 freely, in many instances, lavishly, in order that the spenders 
 may be well housed, fed and entertained ; and the sum is con- 
 stantly growing larger. 
 
 Every foot of shore front from Kittery to Eastport can be 
 sold today for a price that would have astounded our grand- 
 fathers. Every island, regardless of its isolation and exposure 
 to storm and gale, is looked upon as the site of a summer home. 
 There is hardly a lake or stream among our inland hills and 
 valleys that is not already laying claim to distinction as a sum- 
 mer resort. As one approaches the centers of population the 
 cottages on the nearby lakes increase in number, but in attrac- 
 tiveness and ability to satisfy the craving for peace and health- 
 
24 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 giving rest, they are not superior to those found on the shores 
 of the remote lakes and streams of the great northern wilder- 
 ness. 
 
 A few summer hotel properties in Maine have been losing 
 ventures, but in nearly every case new and better management 
 has turned loss into profit and enabled the hotels to become 
 permanent institutions. Recent developments point to an in- 
 crease in this class of property. 
 
 What is comprehensively designated "summer business" in 
 this State is by no means confined to cottages and hotels built 
 and maintained exclusively for the summer season. Several 
 of the best hotels in the State do thousands of dollars worth 
 of business with automobilists and other tourists every sum- 
 mer. Many such visitors pass enjoyable vacations maintaining 
 headquarters at a first class hotel and making little excur- 
 sions into the surrounding country. There is no way of form- 
 ing an estimate of this class of tourist business, but it is very 
 large. 
 
 Farmers' wives who felt the need of replenishing the family 
 wardrobe, painting the house or acquiring a desirable timber 
 lot, soon detected the possibilities in the "summer boarder." 
 Thousands of such women have added substantial sums to the 
 family bank account in this way. There is hardly a rural town 
 or village in Maine that does not contain from one to a dozen 
 summer boarders from June to September. They return year 
 after year and frequently acquire property in the neighborhood. 
 
 Maine is indebted to the summer visitors for much of the 
 prosperity that has come to her in recent years, for, in addi- 
 tion to the vast sums of money brought into the State, the 
 quickening influence of new faces, new blood and new ideas 
 have combined to aid in an industrial awakening, the potentiality 
 of which can hardly be measured at this time. 
 
 Transportation facilities throughout Maine would indeed be 
 meagre, if they were dependent upon Maine business for sup- 
 port and inducements to expand. The main line of travel through 
 this State is, roughly, east and west, and is made up in part 
 of residents who, according to the dictates of business or pleas- 
 ure, move about from place to place and non-residents who 
 come tp Maine to tarry for a season and then return to their 
 homes in other states. The travel through the State from 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 25 
 
 "border to border may be said to be comparatively small. No 
 figures are available to show, accurately, just what portion of 
 the travel is from without the State and what springs from 
 within the State. This much is certain, however, that what- 
 ever Maine residents enjoy in the way of unusually convenient 
 railway accommodations has been granted largely through the 
 impetus of the summer tourist travel. It is true that some of 
 these trains have been retained at the earnest solicitation of 
 Maine business men, and have been found to be successful in a 
 "business way, but it is unpleasant to contemplate the length of 
 time those same business men would have been compelled to 
 labor with the railroad officials in order to have brought about 
 the inauguration of the service in the first instance. What- 
 ever is said of steam roads, in this regard, is equally true of 
 ■electric lines. The day is not yet gone when a few such roads 
 -are run at a loss in winter and the profits of summer stave off 
 the impending bankruptcy proceedings. Of course our own 
 people contribute very largely to this kind of summer travel, 
 tut the strangers within our gates swell the total very appreci- 
 ably. 
 
 The better the transportation facilities, the better the in- 
 ducements are for investors to come- to Maine to do business. 
 There is no doubt that Maine is. indebted to the summer visitors 
 for her unusual transportation advantages and that many of 
 her industrial enterprises are larger and more prosperous be- 
 cause of the latter. 
 
 The foundation of every extensive and prosperous business 
 today contains one stone labelled "good advertising." The same 
 ■may truthfully be said of every state which is pro'jressing. The 
 western states appreciate the value of advertising and devote 
 large sums of money and much energy to it. As old and staid 
 a state as New York has been as industriously advertised as 
 any of them. Niagara Falls, Saratoga, the State House at Al- 
 bany and Brooklyn Bridge were once the chief stock in trade. 
 Just now it is a bi? railroad terminal, a tunnel or two, a huge 
 reservoir or Fra Elbertus. 
 
 Maine has few of the spectacular works of man with which 
 to arrest the attention of a curious world, but the State is rich 
 in the wonderful handiwork of nature. No man ever possessed 
 the power to make cold type adequately describe the grandeur 
 
26 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 of old ocean, the peaceful beauty of a river valley or the ma- 
 jestic dignity of our great pine solitudes. One must stand on 
 a bold headland and hear the roar of the surf, climb to the 
 summit of a rocky hill or tramp among the cathedral pines to 
 get any conception of these works of God. One who has had 
 such an experience tells his work-weary neighbor of the city, 
 as best he can, of his experiences and urges him to come and 
 drink at this fountain of youth. The second pilgrim tells a 
 third, and so on until the journeyings of a few assume the 
 proportions of a pilgrimage. That, in brief, is the history of 
 Maine's advertising. The greatest and best work has been 
 done by those who have seen and felt the wonders of a sum- 
 mer vacation in Maine. The summer visitor is Maine's best 
 advertising medium. Not only have summer tourists sent other 
 vacationists in large numbers but they have also taken note of 
 some of our great natural resources, such as water power and 
 mineral wealth. Their demand for the telephone and telegraph 
 has stretched wires into forest fastnesses which were hereto- 
 fore at least a week's journey from the modern facilities for 
 communication. Their demand for household conveniences has 
 brought reform to the isolated home which are a joy to the 
 housewife and have added years to her Hfe. 
 
 The cottages and hotels devoted to the entertainment of the 
 summer guests are distributed throughout every portion of the 
 State. The cottages owned by non-residents were found in 
 227 municipalities, out of 521, or in 43 per cent of them. The 
 cottages owned by residents of Maine were found in 234 towns 
 or in 45 per cent of them and the summer hotels in 132 towns 
 or 25 per cent. Three hundred and four, or 58 per cent of 
 the towns in the State contain one or more of these classes. 
 While the coast towns contain by far the largest groups of 
 cottages and hotels, the property is otherwise well scattered, so 
 that the business is evenly developed all over the State. 
 
 The municipalities returning the largest amount of resident 
 and non-resident owned and summer hotel property, are Eden 
 $3,429,060; Mt. Desert, $1,004,167; York, $902,623; Port- 
 land, $686,750; Old Orchard, $641,240; Islesboro, $631,331; 
 Camden, $439,220; Kennebunkport, $427,950; Scarboro, $330,- 
 550; Kennebunk, $323,950 ; Wells, $321,850; Cape Elizabeth, 
 $318,700; Harpswell, $297,010; Rockland, $285,400; South- 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 27 
 
 port, $281,110; Bristol, $198,315; Rockport, $194,990; Po- 
 land, $155,455 ; Winter Harbor, $153,692, and Northport, 
 
 $144,535- 
 
 Automobiles have made easily accessible the isolated places 
 of rural Maine which formerly were several days travel from 
 the nearest railroad station. In addition, the comfort of auto- 
 mobile travel over even the roughest roads, is far superior to 
 that afforded by the bone-racking stage. Automobiles also 
 render those who travel in them immune from the dirt, dis- 
 comforts and noise of railway travel as well as free them from 
 the tyranny of the time table. 
 
 The rural hostelries of Maine enjoy such an enviable repu- 
 tation that automobile tourists unhesitatingly undertake long 
 trips which keep them on the winding roads among the farms 
 and forests for weeks at a time. As they "live off the country" 
 within the modern meaning of the term, the income of the farm- 
 ers, mechanics and hotel keepers is materially augmented. 
 
 Automobile travel is very sensitive to road conditions, in- 
 creasing or not according to whether main travelled ways are 
 being improved or allowed to deteriorate. Maine, within four 
 years, has embarked upon a good roads policy which, though 
 primarily for the benefit of the farmers and tradesmen of the 
 State, is unquestionably drawing an ever increasing number 
 of automobile travellers each season. This good roads policy 
 consists principally of the building of strips of road which 
 will eventually be connected and form continuous trunk lines. 
 Maine roads are always in good condition in the summer time 
 and consequently afford splendid opportunities for riding and 
 driving as well as motoring. This is true, even in the more 
 remote regions where dirt roads are the rule and macadam has 
 not yet penetrated. 
 
 Automobile traffic has repeated history to the extent that its 
 meteoric rise in popularity has been similar to that of the bi- 
 cycle, and with the automobile has come the garage, which of- 
 fers employment to hundreds of skilled mechanics. Every large 
 town has at least one public garage and in cities there are more 
 garages than livery stables. The automobile therefore has done 
 much to stimulate summer business, and, incidentally the auto- 
 mobile traffic which is purely summer business, has done much 
 to stimulate the business of making repairs and selling sundries. 
 Motor boats, that is, small pleasure craft propelled by gas- 
 
28 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 olene power, have made thousands of new converts to Maine 
 vacation life, for her 2,000 miles of coast line, 1500 lakes and 
 5000 streams constitute a paradise for aquatic sport of any 
 sort. In other years the owner of a power driven yacht capable 
 of negotiating port to port voyages along the Atlantic coast 
 was at least a millionaire. Now any mechanic can own and 
 drive a boat capable of running from Boston to Portland in 
 perfect safety. The number of vacationists who pass their pe- 
 riod of rest cruising along the Maine coast and up its navigable 
 rivers is increasing by leaps and bounds. 
 
 The summer steamboat service among the islands along the 
 Maine coast is many times more extensive than it would be if 
 there were no summer cottages or tourists. No other section 
 of the Atlantic is so well served as to water traffic as is the 
 coast of Maine from May until October. The most beautiful 
 scenery in the world unfolds to the eye of the tourist on board 
 these steamers, which go 60 miles into the interior of the State 
 on the Penobscot, and nearly an equal distance on the Kennebec 
 to Augusta. Summer sails among the islands of Casco, Penob- 
 scot and Passamaquoddy Bay are a succession of delightful vis- 
 tas without parallel anywhere else on earth. Small steamers 
 also ply our larger lakes and afiford hundreds of charming trips 
 which vie with the best Switzerland boasts. Moosehead and 
 Sebago are especially popular on this account. A river trip 
 which is unique is that up the Bongo from Sebago lake. Motor 
 boats are more numerous on some of the lakes than row boats 
 were a few years ago. 
 
 As a hunter's paradise, Maine is pre-eminent on this conti- 
 nent. The moose, deer, bear and other large game animals are 
 numerous, but yet not so easily captured that the tang of the 
 sport is lost. It is possible for the business man of New York 
 to be in as good hunting ground as can be found anywhere, 
 within 48 hours travel from his office. The Rangeiey, Kineo 
 and Aroostook lines carry the hunter into the heart of the big 
 game country, in Pullman cars, if he cares to travel that way. 
 
 Maine fishing lures the great anglers of the country to its 
 lakes and streams every year. Wise protective laws prevent 
 the fish from being exterminated, or their number from being 
 appreciably reduced, so that the sport does not suffer as the 
 number of anglers increases. Some of the finest cottages and 
 camps in the State are occupied only during the best of the 
 
Power Plant at Ellsworth 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE 29 
 
 fishing season. Hatcheries at strategic points keep the ponds 
 well stocked with young fish, so that some of the lakes fished the 
 most persistently continue to oflfer the best sport. Lake Auburn 
 in Androscoggin county is an example of these conditions. 
 
 The fish and game resources of the State are among the 
 greatest assets, from the standpoint of the business man who 
 caters to tourist guests. The visitors bent on sport are the first 
 to come in spring, when the ice "goes out" of the lakes and the 
 last to go in the fall, when the law closes the big game season. 
 Within a few years experiments have been made in keeping 
 "open house" at one or two of the hotels throughout the winter, 
 in order that Maine's beautiful winter season may be enjoyed 
 also. Snow shoeing, skiing, skating, sleighing, winter photo- 
 graphy, etc., oflfer a continuous round of pleasures for those who 
 tarry with us throughout the year. 
 
30 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY. 
 
 Formed from Cumberland, Oxford, Kennebec and Lincoln. 
 Incorporated March i8, 1854. Contains 12 towns and 2 cities. 
 AREA, 480 square miles. 
 POPULATION^ 1910, 59,822. 
 POLLS, 1904, 14,945- 
 
 ESTATES, 1904, $29,261,930. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Aubum. 
 
 LOCATION. Androscoggin County is in the south central part 
 of the State. 
 
 SURFACE. Quite a portion of the western part of the county 
 is inclined to be hilly with fertile valleys between. In the 
 central and eastern part of the county there is much level or 
 rolling land. There are many intervale farms along the An- 
 droscoggin River. 
 
 SOIL. Mostly loam with clay in some parts. NIearly all the 
 land has a clay subsoil. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 2,982. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $4,266,754.44. 
 
 AVERAGE number of acres tilled land per farm, 27. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 5.6. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. In the western part of the county many 
 good pastures are found. Land in the remainder of the county 
 is valued very high and not so much is available for pasturing. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. The valuc of farm land 
 has increased quite rapidly, — at least 25 per cent during the 
 last few years. Farm lands, including a mixture of tillage 
 land, pastures and timber land, could be purchased for from 
 $20 to $30 per acre. In the central part of the county, near 
 Auburn and Lewiston, good farm land in a fertile condition 
 will sell for $50 to $100 per acre. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 3003. Average yield per acre, 158 
 bu. Total yield in 1909, 474>83i bushels. There has been an 
 increased acreage in the last few years. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 3I 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 1145. Average yield per acre, 
 46 bushels. Total yield in 1909, 53,086 bushels. The acreage 
 of yellow corn seems to be increasing, the most of it going 
 into the silo. 
 
 Sweet Corn. Total acreage, 3150 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 2232 pounds. Total yield in 1909, 7,031,114 pounds. The 
 raising of sweet corn in the past year has been one of the most 
 important industries in the county. Good prices are paid and 
 there is a good market in all parts of the county. One of the 
 most encouraging things is that the acreage of corn planted 
 for seed purposes is increasing quite rapidly. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 4830. Average yield per acre, 32 
 bushels. Total yield in 1909, 159,261 bushels. Very little 
 of the oat crop grown in this section is threshed, as most of the 
 oats are cut for hay. Interest in improving this crop through 
 the securing of better seed is increasing. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 62,117. Average yield per acre, .84 
 tons. Total yield, 52,477 tons. 
 
 Fruit. Many farmers are making a practice of setting out 
 a few fruit trees each year. An increased interest is mani- 
 fested in such ways as spraying, pruning and cultivating the 
 orchards. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 3741. Average value per acre, $26.18. Total 
 value, $97,947- 
 
 Beans. A few farmers are making a specialty of the bean 
 crop. Androscoggin County offers as good opportunities for 
 bean raising as any county in the State. 
 
 Market Gardening. Considerable market gardening is done 
 by a few farmers living near Lewiston and Auburn and they 
 dispose of their products in these cities. 
 
 Barley. Very little barley is raised and that by the dairy- 
 men. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Androscoggin County is one of the best counties 
 for dairying to be found in the State. Some of the largest 
 creameries in the State are located in Androscoggin County, 
 and the cities of Auburn and Lewiston offer exceptionally good 
 markets for a milk trade. 
 
32 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 Horses. Nearly all of the draft horses used in the county- 
 are purchased from the West. However, there is an increas- 
 ing interest taken in the raising of horses and a few thorough- 
 bred stallions are owned by the farmers. 
 
 Sheep. Hardly any sheep are kept except in the western 
 part of the county where are found a few small flocks of sheep. 
 In the central part of the county the high price of farm land 
 prohibits its use for pasture purposes. 
 
 Szvine. This county offers good opportunities for swine 
 raising, as an auxiliary to other farming. The markets are 
 as good as in any other county in the State. 
 
 Poultry. Considerable interest is taken in poultry raising. 
 Quite a number of farmers are making a specialty of this in- 
 dustry and find it to be one of the most profitable branches 
 of farming. 
 
 FARM HELP. The number of farm laborers required dur- 
 ing the summer months is 441. The wages for the year range 
 from $20. to $24., according to the quality of the help. During 
 the summer months the wages for a good man would be $25. 
 to $26. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 6 
 
 Total number of cheese factories i 
 
 Total number of canning factories 8 
 
 MARKETS. Markets for dairy products, as well as for all 
 kinds of farm produce, are especially good. The cities of Au- 
 burn and Lewiston make a very good home market, and An- 
 droscoggin is one of the best located counties in the state for 
 outside markets. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. There are six Agricultural So- 
 cieties. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. Transportation facilities are 
 of such a nature as to be of great assistance to the farmers. 
 The Maine Central Railroad crosses the county in two places, 
 and the Lewiston, Augusta and Waterville Street Railway also 
 intersects it. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools 174 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 33 
 
 Total number of high schools 7 
 
 Leavitt Inst?tute, Turner Center. 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churces, 75; Methodist Epis- 
 copal, 15; Baptist, 12; Free Baptist, 10; Congregational, 
 10 ; Universalist, 9 ; Roman Catholic, 9 ; Adventist, 4 ; Episcopal, 
 3; Friends, 2; Seventh Day Adventist, i. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 National Banks 4 
 
 Savings Banks 4 
 
 Trust Companies 2 
 
 Loan and Building Associations 3 
 
 GENERAL. There is no countv in the state that is better 
 served with rural free deliveries and telephones than Andros- 
 coggin. Although it is a small county it contains two large 
 cities which are rapidly increasing in population. There are 
 four mutual fire insurance companies in the county which in- 
 sure farm property. The county has two general hospitals, 
 a girls' orphanage at Lewiston, and the Healey Asylum for 
 Boys, at Lewiston. 
 
 The excellent home markets offered by the cities of Auburn 
 and Lewiston are an especial inducement for market garden- 
 ing and general farming. To those who desire to ship farm 
 products out of the state, Excellent railroad service is offered 
 by fast freights to Portland and Boston. 
 
 Bates College, in Androscoggin County, is located at Lew- 
 iston. 
 
 AROOSTOOK COUNTY. 
 
 Aroostook County was incorporated March i6th, 1839, hav- 
 ing been originally a part of Penobscot and Washington Coun- 
 ties. On March 21st, 1843, it was enlarged by additions from 
 Penobscot, and again on March 12th, 1844, by additions from 
 Piscataquis and Somerset Counties. There are 43 towns and 
 viBages in Aroostook County. 
 
 AREA, 6,408 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, 1910, 74,664. 
 
 POLLS, 1904, 15,071. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $23,598,602. 
 3 
 
34 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAI^fE. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, HoultOn. 
 
 LOCATION. Northern part of State. 
 
 SURFACE. Rolling, and in the northern and western parts 
 comparatively hilly. 
 
 SOIL. Composed for the most part of gravelly loam, and 
 in some places a light clay, with a limestone subsoil extending 
 over quite a portion of the farm lands of the county. In some 
 places a dark clay with a limestone subsoil is found. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 6,758. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $8,697,251. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 54. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 24.7. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. On accouiit of the high value of farm lands 
 for potato raising, very little land, comparatively, is devoted 
 to grazing purposes. The grazing land consists mostly of land 
 that has recently had the timber cut ofif and is in the process 
 of being cleared. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Farms located within a mile 
 of any of the large, prosperous towns have a selling value 
 ranging from $100. to $150. per acre ; at a distance of three 
 miles from town the selling prices range from $75. to $100. 
 per acre. These prices vary somewhat according to the char- 
 acter and fertility of the soil and the value of the farm build- 
 ings. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 95,647. Average yield per acre, 
 252 bushels. Total yield, 24,153,699 bushels. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 78,509. Average yield per acre, 39 
 bu. Total yield, 3,102,916 bushels. 
 
 Wheat. Total acreage, 5,067. Average yield per acre, 26 
 bu. Total yield, 133,482 bushels. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 195,847. Average yield per acre, .96 
 tons. Total yield, 188,950 tons. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 12,941 acres. Average value per acre, $13.61. 
 Total value, $176,231.47. 
 
 Barley. Barley is being raised in considerable quantities in 
 some sections of the county, with an average yield of from 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 35 
 
 28 to 30 bushels per acre. The soil is particularly well adapted 
 to this crop. 
 
 Corn. Corn is only grown for ensilage purposes and that 
 in a limited area, principally in the southern part of the county. 
 
 Roots. Only a small number of farmers are growing roots 
 of any kind. 
 
 Fruit. Interest in the fruit business is on the increase and 
 many orchards are being established. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 In general the fanners of the county pay but little attention 
 to the raising of live stock, although Aroostook County com- 
 pares quite favorably with other counties in the State in the 
 number of animals owned, and more interest has been shown 
 during the past few years than ever before. 
 
 Cattle. Although only a few cattle are kept by each farm- 
 er, there are quite a number of excellent herds of pure bred 
 cattle owned in the county. The Jersey, Holstein and Short- 
 horn breeds predominate. 
 
 Horses. While a larger number of pure bred stallions of 
 the draft horse breed are owned in Aroostook County, per- 
 haps, than in any other county in the State, yet it seems that 
 more attention could be given by the farmers to the breeding 
 of draft horses. At least three-fourths of the draft horses 
 used in the county are purchased from the West. The explana- 
 tion for this seems to be that farmers have given so little atten- 
 tion to the raising of horses, that the young colts were not given 
 proper exercise and care, the result being that they very rarely 
 made large and satisfactory horses. Among the breeds of 
 draft horses in this country there are splendid representatives 
 of the Percheron, Clyde and Suffolk. 
 
 Smine. The farmers of the county are becoming actively 
 interested in the growing of swine, and many of them are pur- 
 chasing pure bred foundation stock. 
 
 Sheep. Very few farmers, comparatively, are keeping sheep. 
 This is accounted for by Aroostook County farmers in that 
 they could not afford to keep sheep and graze them on land 
 that would bring them $15. per acre. 
 
 Poultry. Poultry raising as a business has received but 
 very little attention up to the present time. The percentage 
 
36 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 of farmers interested in this industry is increasing to a con- 
 siderable extent. 
 
 FARM HELP. Farm help can easily be secured in sufficient 
 quantities to satisfy the demands of the county. At the present 
 time 8,144 farm laborers are required on the farms of Aroos- 
 took County during the summer months. Wages for the sum- 
 mer months average about $30. while for the full year the 
 average price paid is $24. to $26. a month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Starch Factories. Total number, sixty. 
 
 Creameries. There are two creameries located in the county, 
 one at Houlton and another at New Sweden. 
 
 Cheese Factories. Only one cheese factory is operated in 
 the County. 
 
 MARKETS. So far as markets for potatoes are concerned, 
 which constitute the principal need of the county, the farmers 
 as a rule are well served, there being a large number of potato 
 houses located along the lines of the Bangor & Aroostook and 
 Canadian Pacific Railroads. These potato houses are operated 
 by firms and companies who are engaged in the business of 
 purchasing and selling potatoes. Markets for dairy products 
 have received but little attention on account of the lack of in- 
 terest taken in dairying by the farmers during previous years. 
 The addition of two sweet cream factories in the county will 
 undoubtedly have a tendency to improve the markets for dairy 
 butter. Prices for dairy butter during the past year have aver- 
 aged 27c. per pound; during the summer months the prices 
 have ranged from 20c. to 25c. and during the winter months 
 from 30c. to 40c. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. There is but one agricultural . so- 
 ciety in Aroostook County — the Northern Maine Fair Associa- 
 tion. The annual fair is usually held in Presque Isle. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The following railroads are operating in the 
 county: Bangor & Aroostook and the Canadian Pacific; also 
 the Aroostook Valley R. R. Co. operates an electric line from 
 Presque Isle to Washburn. 
 
1 
 
 
 l»%i-:M 
 
 .•' ,^.'J':."^:r'r: '1,1 
 
 Wheat Field of G. B. Cook, Mapleton 
 
 •Ji %-''\ 
 
 '^•iiisvil^ 
 
 
 W heat Field of G. B. Cook 
 (Another View) 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 3/ 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools 497 
 
 Total number of schools in farming communities . 442 
 
 Total number of free high schools 12 
 
 Aroostook Central Institute, Mars Hill. 
 
 Ricker Classical Institute, Houlton. 
 
 Bridgewater Classical Academy, Bridgewater. 
 
 Madawaska Training School, Fort Kent. 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 134; Methodist 
 Episcopal, 24; Baptist, 19; Free Baptist, 30; Roman Cath- 
 olic, 18; Congregational, 11; Episcopal, 10; Adventist, 6; 
 Christian, 5 ; Presbyterian, 4 ; Seventh Day Adventist, 2 ; 
 Friends, i ; Universatlist, i ; Unitarian, 3. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 National Banks 5 
 
 Savings Banks i 
 
 Trust Companies 6 
 
 GENERAL. The farmers of the county are well served by 
 the rural free deliveries and telephones which extend through 
 nearly all of the farming districts. About all of the progres- 
 sive farmers are supplied with telephones. 
 
 Roller process flour mills are located at Presque Isle, Fort 
 Fairfield, Washburn, Caribou and Houlton. Markets for dairy 
 products are excellent. There are two hospitals in Aroostook 
 County, one at Frenchville and the other at Eagle Lake Mills. 
 There are two mutu^« fire insurance companies in the county 
 that insure farm property. In this county is a State Normal 
 School, at Presque Isle, and St. Mary's College, at Van Buren. 
 
 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 
 
 Cumberland County originally embraced Androscoggin, 
 Franklin and parts of Oxford, Kennebec and Somerset Coun- 
 ties. Incorporated in 1760. There are twenty-three towns 
 and three cities. 
 
 AREA, 1,014 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, 1910, 112,014. 
 
 POLLS, 1904, 29,303. 
 
38 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 ESTATES, 1904, $78,581,444. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Portland, in the eastern part of the county, 
 on the Atlantic Coast. 
 
 LOCATION. Southern part of State, on the coast. 
 
 SURFACE. Comparatively level land along the coast; roll- 
 ing and somewhat hilly toward the western and northwestern 
 parts. 
 
 SOIL. A great variety of soil is found in the county, the 
 majority being loam and clay loam. In some of the ravines 
 and near the coast a sandy loam is found. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 5,205. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $7,607,739. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 32. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 4.8. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. This couuty aflfords excellent opportunities 
 for grazing and could easily be made' to accommodate many 
 more animals than it does at present. The value of farm land 
 being comparatively low at a distance of six or eight miles 
 from the village centers, there are excellent opportunities for 
 grazing sheep and young stock. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Good tillage land near the 
 city of Portland is valued at about $100. per acre; back in 
 the small towns, two or three miles from the railroad stations, 
 it is worth about $50. per acre; four miles from the stations, 
 $40. The value of different farms depends largely upon the 
 location, fertility of the soil, the buildings and the amount of 
 lumber. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Acreage, 6217 acres. Average yield per acre, 145 
 bu. Total yield, 1909, 902,405 bu. There has been a decided 
 increase in the raising of potatoes in' Cumberland County with- 
 in the last few years. In the vicinity of Brunswick, many 
 farmers are raising from six to ten acres each year. In the 
 vicinity of Portland and along the coast only a sufficient acre- 
 age is raised for family use, and in some cases to supply the 
 summer resorts. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 3,202 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 47 bu. Total yield, 1909, 153,423 bu. Considerable en- 
 silage corn is raised in the southern part of the county, but 
 not as much as formerly, this being replaced by common yel- 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 39 
 
 low flint corn. The land and climate in this county are well 
 adapted to corn raising. 
 
 Sweet Corn. Total acreage, 4,107 acres. Average yield pei 
 acre, 2.421 lbs. Total yield, 1909, 9,943,753 lbs. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 9,037 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 35 bu. Total yield, 1909, 323,216 bu. About 60 per cent of the 
 oats raised are cut for fodder and the remainder threshed. 
 This crop is used for seeding down. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage in 1909, 131,629 acres; average per 
 acre, .86 tons; total yield, 114,233 tons. The greater part of 
 the tillage land of the farms is devoted to the raising of hay, 
 and on account of a continuous hay crop being cut on the 
 land for a long term of years, it seems that here is an excellent 
 opportunity to increase the productiveness of the land by prac- 
 ticing a short rotation and keeping more stock. 
 
 f 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total number of acres, 5,723 ; average per acre, $34.70. Value 
 of miscellaneous crops in 1909, $198,646. The greatest part of 
 the miscellaneous crops of Cumberland County consists of mar- 
 ket garden crops raised to supply the summer resort and city 
 markets. Many farmers are making a specialty of this line of 
 farming. 
 
 Barley. Comparatively little barley is raised, and this is 
 used mostly as a soiling crop. 
 
 Winter Rye. This is raised by some farmers and is used 
 for soiling purposes as well as a cover crop. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 The live stock in Cumberland County consists mostly of horses 
 and cattle, with only a comparatively small number of sheep 
 and swine. 
 
 Cattle. This is one of the best dairy counties in the State 
 and there seems to be an increasing interest in the breeding 
 of pure blood stock. Many of the farmers have purchased 
 pure bred sires and have started to grade up their herds. Ow- 
 ing to the: sumrrier resorts ' and the excellent market Portland 
 afjFords. for milk, many large herds are found along the coast 
 and in the vicinity of Portland." The majority of the animals 
 consists of grade and pure blood Holsteins and Ayrshires; the 
 
40 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 remainder being for the most part Jersey and Jersey grades. 
 
 Horses. As practically all of the work is done at tl:e pres- 
 ent time with horses, in this county, there has been an increase 
 in the number used. Most of the draft horses are brou^t into 
 the county, but recently a number of pure bred Percheron sires 
 have been introduced. 
 
 Swine. Not nearly as many swine are kept as could be 
 disposed of to advantage in the markets of Portland and near- 
 by cities. Nbt more than three or four hogs are kept by each 
 farmer. 
 
 Sheep. Comparatively few sheep are kept and these only 
 in small flocks. With a little repair work on the fences of the 
 pastures, a great many more sheep could be kept without extra 
 cost. 
 
 Poultry. The best of opportunities are offered for poultry 
 raising and within the last year or two there has been am in- 
 crease in the interest taken in this business. A few farmers 
 are making a speciatly of poultry raising, and find it very 
 profitable as the summer resorts furnish an excellent market 
 during the summer season. 
 
 FARM HELP. At the present time, 595 laborers are required 
 on the farms in Cumberland County. Farm help is somewhat 
 scarce and this is probably due to the fact that more wages 
 are paid by the manufacturers than by the farmers. The aver- 
 age wages paid for farm help range from $26. to $30. per 
 month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Creameries. The creameries in Cumberland County are as 
 follows : 
 
 Portland Creamery Company, Bridgton. 
 Portland Creamery Company, Portland. 
 Windemere Creamery, North Gorham. 
 Canneries. Total number, 13. 
 
 MARKETS. There are no better markets found in any county 
 in the State than those of Cumberland County. The demand 
 for farm products seems to exceed the supply at all times of 
 the year. The summer resorts offer an excellent market for 
 market garden products and high prices are paid. 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 7. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 4I 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The following roads are operating in the county : 
 Maine Central Railroad, Boston & Maine Railroad, Grand 
 Trunk Railway, and Portland (Electric) Railroad Company. 
 
 Steamboat Lines. Portland & Boothbay Steamboat Com- 
 pany, Casco Bay & Harpswell Steamboat Company. There 
 are also other steamboat lines ruiming direct to Boston and 
 New York, over which a large amount of freight is handled. 
 
 SCHOOLS. Common Schools, 300; High Schools, 14; 
 Bridgton Academy, Greeley Institute, North Yarmouth Acad- 
 emy, Pennell Institute, St. Joseph's Academy and Westbrook 
 Seminary. 
 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 152. Congregation- 
 al, 42; Methodist Episcopal, 30; UniversaHst, 13; Baptist, 
 11; Free Baptist, 16; Roman Catholic, 9; Adventist, 8; 
 Episcopal, S, and 2 summer chapels; Seventh Day Adventist, 
 5 ; Unitarian, 5 ; Friends, 4 ; New Jerusalem, i ; Presby- 
 terian, I. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 National Banks 10 
 
 Savings Banks 6 
 
 Trust Companies 6 
 
 Loan & Building Associations 9 
 
 GENERAL. Cumberland County has many special advantages, 
 such as excellent services to the rural communities by rural 
 free deliveries and telephones. There are eight hospitals lo- 
 cated in the county and fifteen mutual fire insurance companies 
 insuring farm property. The three cities of Portland, South 
 Portland and Westbrook are growing rapidly and furnish an 
 excellent home market for farm products. There are many 
 summer resorts along the coast which help to make this county 
 one of the best opportunities for market gardening in the 
 State. Railroads give excellent service between Portland and 
 Boston and many fast trains enable the farmers to ship such 
 products as milk and cream to the Boston markets. 
 
 There are one college and one normal school in Cumberland 
 County, as follows: Bowdoin College, Brunswick, and Gor- 
 ham State Normal School, Gorham. 
 
42 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
 
 Franklin County was incorporated March 20, 1838. Con- 
 tains 19 towns. 
 AREA, 1764 square miles. 
 POPULATION, 1910, 19,119. 
 
 POLLS, 1904, 5631. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $10,330,576. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Farmington. 
 
 LOCATION. Franklin County is located in the western part 
 of the State. 
 
 SURFACE. Rough, uneven and diversified. Much of the land 
 is wooded. 
 
 SOIL. Loam and gravelly loam on the ridges and some sandy 
 loam in the river valleys. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 2346. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $2,453,213. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 36. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 5.7. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. The grazing opportunities of the county 
 offer pasture for very much more live stock than it has at 
 the present time. The rough hills are particularly well adapted 
 to grazing, and the difficulty with which they are cultivated 
 makes them valuable for this purpose. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Tillage land in good fer- 
 tility, two miles from a village and railroad station, is valued 
 at, about $60. per acre. Four miles away, $40 per acre. The 
 value of tillage land varies considerably with the location, fer- 
 tility of soil, lumber and kind of buildings found on the farm. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 2788 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 195 bushels. Total yield, 1909, 544,122 bushels. The 
 acreage of potatoes raised by each farmer is comparatively 
 small. However, markets for potatoes are very good and the 
 interest taken in potato raising seems to be on the increase. 
 
 Field Com. Tqtal acreage, 11 37 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 51 bushels. Total yield, 1909, 58,261 bushels. There 
 seems to be a decided increase in the interest taken in rais- 
 ing vellow corn, and it is used quite extensively for ensilage. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 43 
 
 Sweet Corn. Total acreage, 2121 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 2266 pounds. Total yield, 1909, 4,807,627 pounds. This 
 is one of the most important crops> raised by farmers in Frank- 
 lin County. Canning factories are found in nearly every small 
 town and a good price is paid for the sweet corn. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 5324 acres. Average yield per acre, 33 
 bushels. Total yield, 1909, 175,752 bushels. More oats are 
 raised than any other soiling crop and are used by about all 
 the farmers for seeding down. About 60 per cent of the oat 
 crop is cut green for fodder and the rest is threshed. 
 
 Hay. Acreage, 70,532 acres. Average yield per acre .83 
 tons. Total yield, 59,055 tons. As Franklin County is one of 
 the best dairy counties in the State, considerable farm land is 
 devoted to raising hay. The. yield could be increased easily, if a 
 shorter rotation were practiced. 
 
 Fruit. Some of the finest orchards in the State are found 
 in Franklin County. Hills and gravelly loam seem especially 
 well adapted to orcharding. During the past few years there 
 has been an increased interest taken, as shown by the better 
 care and management. Quite a number of young orchards 
 are found which have Just come into bearing. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Number of acres, 1880. Value per acre, $29.87. Total value, 
 $56,162. 
 
 Barley. Barley is being raised in some sections of Maine 
 both as a cover crop and for soiling purposes. 
 
 Winter Rye. Winter rye is receiving about the same atten- 
 tion as barley and is raised for similar purposes. 
 
 Buckwheat. Buckwheat is being raised to a small extent 
 and is fed to hens. • 
 
 Roots. A small number of farmers are growing roots which 
 are used to feed cattle. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 In general the farmers of Franklin County show considerable 
 interest in the live stock industry; This county stands among 
 the best in sheep and cattle. 
 
 Cattle. There seems to be an increasing interest in dairy- 
 ing and there are more pure bred sires being kept than ever 
 before. Although some oxen are found, the interest in this 
 
44 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 branch of animal industry seems to be decreasing and more 
 dairy animals are being kept. 
 
 Horses. There is not much interest in breeding horses at 
 the present time. However, there are a number of thorough- 
 bred stallions found in the county. Nearly all the horses used 
 are brought into the county at very high prices. 
 
 Swine. Nearly all of the farmers are interested in the rais- 
 ing of swine and from two to eight hogs are found on almost 
 every farm. 
 
 Sheep. There seems to be considerable interest in the rais- 
 ing of sheep, but only a comparatively small number are kept 
 by each farmer. Many more sheep could easily be kept if the 
 fences of the pastures were re-built. 
 
 Poultry. Poultry raising seems to be a business that is re- 
 ceiving but little attention at the present time. However, there 
 are a few farmers who are making a specialty of this line. 
 
 FARM HELP. At the present time, 341 farm laborers are re- 
 quired during the summer months. The average wages per 
 month are $23. to $25. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Corn Canning Factories. Total number, 6. 
 
 Creameries. There is but one creamery in Franklin County. 
 This is owned by the Turner Center Dairying Association, and 
 is located in Farmington. 
 
 Miscellaneous canning factories. There are located in the 
 county several other factories which make a specialty of can- 
 ning different farm products. 
 
 MARKETS. A sufificient number of corn canning factories 
 is found in the county to furnish a good market for sweet 
 corn. Orcharding .and potato raising seem to be among the 
 most important lines of farming and good markets are also of- 
 fered for these products. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. There are two agricultural so- 
 cieties located in Franklin County; Franklin County Agricul- 
 tural Society, Farmington, and North Franklin Agricultural 
 Society, Phillips. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The following railroads are operated 'in the 
 county; Maine Central and Sandy River Railroads. 
 
o 
 
 o 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
AGRICULTUR^\L STATISTICS OF MAINE. 45 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools in farming 
 
 communities 143 
 
 Total number of High Schools 11 
 
 Wilton Academy, Wilton. 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 45; Methodist 
 Episcopal, 12; Congregational, 10; UniversaHst, 3; Roman 
 Catholic, 3; Baptist, 2; Free Baptist, 13; Adventist, i ; Uni- 
 tarian, I. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 National Banks 3 
 
 Savings Banks 3 
 
 Trtist Companies 2 
 
 General. Nearly all of the farming communities in Frank- 
 lin County are reached by rural free deliveries and telephones. 
 There are three mutual fire insurance companies in the county 
 that insure farm property. The Farmington State Normal 
 School is located in Franklin County at Farmington. 
 
 Markets for dairy products, and for farm produce such as 
 apples, potatoes, etc., are very good. Franklin County seems 
 particularly well adapted to the dairy business and to orchard- 
 ing. 
 
 HANCOCK COUNTY. 
 Incorporated June 25, 1789. Portions taken in 1816 to form 
 Penobscot, and in 1827, to form Waldo. 
 AREA, 1,390 square miles. 
 POPULATION, 1910, 35,575. 
 
 POLLS, 1904, 11,281. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $17,276,633. 
 COUNTY SEAT, EUsWOrth. 
 
 LOCATION. Eastern part of the State. 
 
 SURFACE. Rough, hilly and diversified. In the northern 
 and central parts of the county the land is well wooded and the 
 farms have a comparatively small acreage of tillage land. In 
 the southern part some good farm land is found. 
 
 SOIL. The soil for the most part is gravelly loam on the 
 ridges, and sandy and clay loam in the southern part of the 
 county. 
 
46 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 2,972. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $2,020,624. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 16. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 2.2. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. Mucli more live stock could easily be ac- 
 commodated in the pastures of Hancock County than are kept 
 at the present time. Owing to the fact that farm land is com- 
 paratively low, much of it could be profitably devoted to graz- 
 ing. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Priccs vary in different 
 sections of the county, the land in the southern part being 
 somewhat higher than that in the northern and central por- 
 tions. Two miles from railroad station good tillage land can 
 be purchased for from $25. to $50. per acre, while at a dis- 
 tance of four miles it is valued at from $15. to $30. per acre. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 2478. Average yield per acre, 203 
 bushels. Total yield, 504,685 bushels. This is one of the most 
 important crops raised in Hancock County. The soil is well 
 adapted to this crop and, although the fields are comparatively 
 small, a fairly good production per acre is obtained. This 
 could undoubtedly be increased if a shorter rotation and better 
 methods were practiced. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 50 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 57 bushels. Total yield, 2,885 bushels. Only a few acres 
 of field corn are grown in the county on account of the short 
 seasons. There are some varieties of flint corn that could be 
 matured in this county if more interest was taken in the crop. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 2,228 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 35 bushels. Total yield, 79,170 bushels. This is the most 
 important grain crop raised in the county. There is not much 
 interest taken in improving the oat seed, and undoubtedly the 
 yield per acre could be increased considerably if better methods 
 were practiced. The majority of the oats are threshed, the 
 remainder being cut green for hay. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 39,606 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 .78 tons. Total yield, 31,082. It will be seen that about 82% 
 of the tilled land in Hancock County is producing hay. The 
 yidd would undoubtedly be much greater if more of the land 
 was cultivated. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 47 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 1,418 acres. Value per acre, $67.76. Total 
 value, $96,092. 
 
 Szveet Corn. Only a very few acres of sweet corn are raised 
 as there is some difficulty in maturing the corn. 
 
 Market Gardening. Considerable market gardening is done 
 in the southern part of the county and the products are dis- 
 posed of in the cities and at the summer resorts. No county 
 has better summer resort markets than Hancock County. 
 
 Fruit. Although the land in some parts of Hancock County 
 is well adapted to fruit raising, there are comparatively few 
 orchards and these have been somewhat neglected. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. There does not seem to be much interest in im- 
 proving dairy cattle in Hancock County. Only small herds 
 are kept by the farmers. There is an excellent market for 
 dairy products and opportunities are good for keeping more 
 cows. 
 
 Horses. There has been an increase in the number of horses 
 used in the county. This demand has been supplied for the 
 most part by western horses. 
 
 Siiine. Although the markets are good for this product, 
 ■only very little interest is taken in swine raising. 
 
 Sheep. There has been an increasing interest in sheep rais- 
 ing for the past few years, although at the present time sheep 
 are kept only in small flocks. The markets are good. 
 
 Poultry. Considerable interest is taken in poultry raising 
 and there are at the present time a few specialists in this busi- 
 ness. The conditions of Hancock County are exceptionally 
 good, and the summer resorts furnish excellent home markets. 
 
 FARM HELP. Opportunities are offered for 112 farm laborers 
 in this county. The average wages per month are from $28 
 to $30. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 3 
 
 Total number of cheese factories i 
 
 MARKETS. Excellent markets are afforded for all kinds of 
 farm products and the demand is much greater than the supply. 
 
48 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 There are sufficient creameries to handle all of the dairy pro- 
 ducts produced in the county. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 4. 
 
 TRAXSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The county is crossed in two places by the Maine 
 Central Railroad. 
 
 Steamboat Lines. Numerous steamboat lines handle a large 
 amount of freight during the summer months. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number common schools 261 
 
 Total number schools in farming communities. . 181 
 
 Total number High Schools 11 
 
 East Maine Conference Seminary, Bucksport. 
 George Stevens Academy, Bluehill. 
 CHURCHES. Total number, 54; Methodist Episcopal, 13; 
 Congregational, 12; Baptist, 8; Free Baptist, 9; Roman 
 Catholic, 4; Universalist, 3 ; Friends, 2; Unitarian, i ; Epis- 
 copal, I and I summer chapel. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 Niational Banks 3 
 
 Savings Banks 3 
 
 Trust Companies 2 
 
 Building & Loan Associations 3 
 
 GENERAL. The rural communities receive excellent rural free 
 delivery and telephone service. No county in the State has bet- 
 ter home markets, during the summer months, than Hancock 
 County, as some of the most popular summer resorts in the 
 country are located on the coast, among them being Bar Harbor 
 and Mt. Desert. There is good railroad service, and during 
 the summer months daily boats run to Portland and Boston. 
 
 There is one hospital in Hancock County, The Bar Harbor 
 Medical & Surgical Hospital. 
 
 KENNEBEC COUNTY. 
 Kennebec County was incorporated the sixth county on Feb- 
 ruary 20, 1799. Contains twenty-five towns and four cities. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 49 
 
 AREA, 880 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, I9IO, 62,863. 
 POLLS, 1904, 16,646. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $31,536,707. 
 COUNTY SEAT, AugUSta. 
 
 LOCATION, central part of the state. 
 
 SURFACE. Rolling and somewhat hilly. Some excellent fields 
 are found along the Kennebec River. 
 
 SOIL. Nearly all kinds of soil can be found in different parts 
 of the county. On the ridges a gravelly loam is found, and in 
 the river valley clay loam. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 5,104. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $6,234,571. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 34. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 8.4. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. Excellent grazing land affords ample oppor- 
 tunity for the live stock in the county. Owing to the high 
 value of farm lands in this county grazing land is worth consid- 
 erable for farming purposes. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. During the past few years 
 there has been a decided increase in the value of farm lands in 
 Kennebec county. Good tillage land located within two miles 
 of a village or city is valued at $50 to $100 per acre. Land simi- 
 lar to this at a distance of five miles is valued at $30 to $6o per 
 acre. This value varies according to the kind of soil, its pro- 
 ductiveness, nearness to market, and kind of buildings located 
 on the farm. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 9791. Average yield per acre, 178 
 bu. Total yield, 1,749,169 bu. There has been a decided 
 increase in the acreage of potatoes raised in this county. The 
 soil seems particularly well adapted to this crop and there is 
 an excellent home market besides good transportation to outside 
 markets. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 3661. Average yield per acre, 
 48 bu. Total yield, 177,967 bu. Within the past few years 
 more attention has been paid to the growing of this crop. Many 
 of the silos are being filled with a type of field corn that will 
 mature in the county. 
 4 
 
so AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 Sivcct Corn. Total number acres, 4444. Average yield per 
 acre, 21 10 lbs. Total yield, 9,379,246 lbs. It will be seen that 
 the acreage of sweet corn is slightly larger than that of field 
 corn. The climatic conditions are favorable to the sweet corn 
 crop and there is a sufficient number of canning factories to 
 furnish a good market. 
 
 Oats. Total number of acres, 16,058. Average yield per 
 acre, 33 bu. Total yield, 534,409 bu. This is the most import- 
 ant grain crop grown in the county and is used for seeding 
 down. About forty per cent of the oats raised are cut for fod- 
 der, and the remainder threshed. 
 
 Hay. Total number of acres, 133,829. Average yield per 
 acre, .88 tons. Total yield, 118,895 tons. The yield of hay per 
 acre could undoubtedly be increased if a shorter rotation was 
 practiced, as hay has been cut on many of these fields for a 
 series of six to ten years. 
 
 Fruit. There are many fine orchards in Kennebec County. 
 Although some of these orchards have been neglected there 
 seems to be at the present time an increased interest in fruit 
 raising and more attention and better care are being given the 
 trees. Some of the farmers living near the cities are doing con- 
 siderable with small fruits. They find no difficulty in disposing 
 of all they can raise at good prices. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 6317. Value per acre, $27.88. Total value, 
 $176,133.45. 
 
 Market Gardening. This is undoubtedly the most important 
 branch of miscellaneous crops in the county. As there are four 
 cities in diflferent parts of the county an excellent market is 
 afforded for garden crops. 
 
 Barley. More barley is being raised each year and is used 
 as a soiling crop by many of the dairymen. 
 
 Winter Rye. Winter rye is raised to some extent for a 
 cover crop and for soiling purposes early in the spring. . 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Kennebec County offers as good opportunities to the 
 dairyman as any other county in the state. Numerous cream- 
 eries are found and the cities afford a good market for milk. 
 •More interest is being shown in pure bred stock and many of 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 5I 
 
 the dairymen have purchased pure bred sires and are grading 
 up their herds. There has been a decrease in the number of 
 oxen and beef animals kept. 
 
 Horses. There has been an increase in the number of draft 
 horses used in the county and this demand has been met by 
 buying horses direct from the West at high prices. More horses 
 could profitably be raised upon the farms of Kennebec County. 
 
 Swine. Although there are no men making a specialty of 
 swine raising, nearly every farmer has from four to six hogs. 
 There is an excellent home market for this product. 
 
 Sheep. Not many sheep are kept. 
 
 Poultry. A few farmers are making a specialty of poftltry 
 raising. More interest has been taken in the poultry business 
 in the last year than formerly. An exceptionally good market is 
 afforded by the cities in the county. 
 
 FARM HELP. The farms of Kennebec County afford opportu- 
 nity for 221 farm laborers. Wages paid are good, ranging from 
 $26 to $32 per month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 2 
 
 Total number of canning factories 7 
 
 MARKETS. Excellent markets for all kinds of farm products 
 are afforded the farmers of this county. Four cities located in 
 different parts of the county handle a large amount of the pro- 
 ducts raised upon the farms, and there is an excellent opportu- 
 nity for market gardening and diversified farming. 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 2. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The county is crossed in two places by the Maine 
 Central Railroad and also by the Lewiston, Augusta and Water- 
 ville Street Railway. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools 265 
 
 Total number of schools in farming communities 152 
 
 Total number of high schools 12 
 
 Total number of academies 3 
 
 Coburn Classical Institute, Waterville. 
 
52 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 Maine Wesleyan Seminary, Kents Hill. 
 
 Oak Grove Seminary, Vassalboro. 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 121. Methodist Epis- 
 copal, 27; Baptist, 20; Free Baptist, 12; Congregational, 14; 
 Friends, 12; Universalist, 10; Roman Catholic, 9; Adventist, 6; 
 Episcopal, 5; Christian, 3; Unitarian, 2; 7th Day Adventist, i. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 National Banks 7 
 
 Savings Banks 6 
 
 Trust Companies 4 
 
 Loan & Building Associations 4 
 
 GENERAL. The farmers of Kennebec County are well served 
 with rural free deliveries and telephones. Nearly every farming 
 community in the county is reached. 
 
 Among the special advantages of this county are the four 
 comparatively large cities which are located within its limits 
 and furnish an excellent home market for all farm products. 
 The rapid growth that these cities have shown in the past few 
 years and the resulting increased value of farm lands go to 
 show that Kennebec County stands among the best in the state. 
 
 There are a sufficient number of mutual fire insurance com- 
 panies that insure farm property to do all of the business 
 required. 
 
 Colby College is located in the City of Waterville. 
 
 KNOX COUNTY. 
 
 Formerly a part of Lincoln and Waldo. Incorporated in i860 
 and named for General Henry Knox. Contains 15 towns and 
 I city. 
 
 AREA, 327 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, I9IO, 27,981. 
 
 POLLS, 1904, 9,433- 
 
 ESTATES, 1904, $14,774,795. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Rockland. 
 
 LOCATION. South central part of the State, on the coast. 
 SURFACE. Hilly and somewhat broken. In the central part 
 of the State is found some good farming land. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 53 
 
 SOIL. Clay and gravelly loam. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, i,8i8. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $1,869,448. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 24. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 3.6. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. Knox County affords good opportunities 
 for grazing. In some parts of the county where the land is 
 rough it can be profitably used as pasture land. Much more live 
 stock could be accommodated than is kept at the present time. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Although there has been an 
 increase in the value of farm lands, many farms can yet be pur- 
 chased at low prices. Good tillage land within two miles of the 
 railroad station is valued at from $30 to $50 per acre ; at a dis- 
 tance of 4 miles, $20 to $40 per acre. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 2386. Average yield per acre, 176 
 bushels. Total yield, 420,718 bushels. There has been a 
 decided increase in the acreage of potatoes raised in the county; 
 much interest is taken in this crop and the markets are good. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 682. Average yield per acre, 37 
 bushels. Total yield, 25,755 bushels. Within the past few years 
 many of the farmers have built silos and more interest is taken 
 in corn raising. 
 
 Szveet Corn. More interest is taken in raising sweet corn of 
 late and this has become one of the most important cultivated 
 crops of the county. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 2214. Average yield per acre, 34 
 bushels. Total yield, 75,980 bushels. Comparatively little inter- 
 est is taken in improving the oat crop. This is one of the 
 important crops of the county and is used for seeding down. 
 About 50% of the oats are cut for fodder and the remainder are 
 threshed. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 36,620. Average yield per acre, .83 
 tons. Total yield, 30,546 tons. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 509. Average value per acre $60.10. Total 
 
 value, $30,593'-49- 
 Fruit. Interest in fruit raising is increasing. New orchards 
 
54 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OK MAINE. 
 
 are being established and the old ones are being better cared for. 
 
 Barley. Considerable barley is raised, and used as a cover 
 crop and for soiling purposes. 
 
 Roots. Some of the farmers who have no silos raise roots to 
 feed to their animals during the winter months. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Interest in breeding a good quality of cattle in the 
 county is rapidly increasing. The herds are camparatively 
 small at the present time. 
 
 Horses. Although there has been an increase in the number 
 of horses used during the past few years, there is but very little 
 attempt made to breed draft horses. 
 
 Swine. More swine are being raised and a few specialists 
 are found. 
 
 Sheep. Mr.ny of the farmers are keeping more sheep and 
 find it to be a very profitable line of animal industry. The 
 markets are good. 
 
 Poultry. The poultry business is increasing quite rapidly and 
 there are a few farmers making a specialty in this line. 
 
 FARM HELP. There seems to be some difficulty in obtaining 
 enough farm help in Knox County. This is undo'ibte'lly 
 accounted for by the lo<v wages paid — from $22 to $28 per 
 month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 2 
 
 Total number canning factories 2 
 
 MARKETS. Some of the great advantages of Knox County are 
 the good local markets for sweet corn, dairy products, small 
 fruits and garden truck. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, i; North Knox 
 Agricultural Society. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The county is crossed by the Maine Central Rail- 
 road. 
 
 Steamboats. Much of the freight is handled over the steam- 
 boat lines during the summer months. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 55 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools 140 
 
 Total number of schools in farming communities 92 
 
 Total number of High Schools 10 
 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 55; Baptist, 17; Free 
 Baptist, 3; Methodist Episcopal, 10; Congregational, 8; Univer- 
 saUst, 5 ; Adventist, 5 ; Episcopal, 4 ; Roman Catholic, 3. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 National Banks 6 
 
 Savings Banks 3 
 
 Trust Companies ' 2 
 
 Building & Loan Associations i 
 
 GENERAL. Nearly every farming community in Knox County 
 has good rural free delivery and telephone service. Excellent 
 opportunities are offered in the home markets as a large num- 
 ber of the farm products raised can be disposed of at the sum- 
 mer resorts and in the city of Rockland. 
 
 One of the great advantages of Knox County is the compara- 
 tively low value of farm lands. 
 
 There is one hospital in Knox County, the Knox County Gen- 
 eral Hospital, situated at Rockland. 
 
 LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 Incorporated June 19, 1760. Parted with some of its terri- 
 tory to form Washington and Hancock Counties in 1789. Con- 
 tains 17 towns. 
 
 AREA, 520 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, I9IO, 18,216. 
 POLLS, 1904, 5,829. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $7,518,209. 
 COUNTY SEAT, WlsCaSSCt. 
 
 LOCATION, in the south central part of the State, on the coast. 
 
 SURFACE, rolling and somewhat hilly. Much of the land is 
 wooded and the fields in the northern part of the county are 
 small. 
 
 SOIL. Granite and feldspar formation, while on the ridges 
 and hilly land considerable loam and gravelly loam can be found. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 2,919. 
 
S6 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $2,466,594. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 22. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 3.1. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. Owing to the fact that rough land is so 
 cheap, there is considerable land in Lincoln County that could 
 be profitably devoted to grazing, and with a little repair work 
 done upon the fences of the pastures, much more live stock 
 could be accommodated. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Average tillage land is 
 worth from $20 to $30 per acre. Illustration: A farm of 100 
 acres with fairly good buildings, and an average amount of till- 
 age, pasture and wood land, could be purchased for $1500. There 
 are many abandoned farms that could be purchased at a low 
 price. The hay grown yearly would pay six per cent interest on 
 the investment without considering the wood and lumber avail- 
 able for cutting. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 31 16. Average yield per acre, 181 
 bushels. Total yield, 565,633 bushels. This is one of the most 
 important cultivated crops raised in Lincoln County. More 
 interest is being taken in this crop each year and one of the 
 railroads crossing the county has built several potato houses in 
 some of the villages. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 1,011 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 44 bushels. Total yield, 44,639 bushels. The acreage of 
 yellow corn is rapidly increasing and many of the farmers 
 who have silos are using this for ensilage. 
 
 Siieet Corn. Total acreage, 819 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 2161 lbs. Total yield, 1,769,920 lbs. There is no can- 
 ning factory located in the county, but many farmers in the 
 northern part are raising sweet corn and shipping it to the 
 factory located at Week's Mills in Kennebec County. Most 
 of the farmers living near the coast raise a little sweet corn 
 for table use and to supply the summer resorts. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 3570. Average yield per acre, 31 
 bu. Total yield, 111,007 bu. Very little attempt has been made 
 to secure improved seed. About 50% of the oat crop is cut 
 green for hay and the remainder is threshed. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 58,125 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 .92 tons. Total yield, 53,747 tons. The yield per acre could 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 57 
 
 easily be increased by practicing a shorter rotation of crops. 
 Many fields in Lincoln County have been producing hay for 
 from ten to twenty years without being plowed. 
 
 Fruit. Although quite a large amount of apples is raised 
 in the county, comparatively few of them are marketed as 
 the trees are not cared for and the apples are often wormy, 
 and unsalable on account of size. 
 
 Small Fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries and black- 
 berries are in good demand and bring fair prices. The lowest 
 price for strawberries during the past season was I2^c., and 
 for raspberries, 20c. per quart. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 1,349 acres. Value per acre, $31.75. Total 
 value, $42,831.15. 
 
 Barley. Only a small acreage of barley is raised and is 
 used chiefly for feeding swine and poultry. 
 
 Beans. There seems to be an increasing interest in rais- 
 ing beans; the acreage is small, yet every farmer raises some. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Very little interest is taken in the breeding of cattle 
 or of any kind of live stock; however, some of the farmers 
 are beginning to start dairy herds and the number of oxen 
 and beef animals raised is decreasing. The market for dairy 
 products is mostly a cream and butter market. 
 
 Horses. But very little attention is given to breeding draft 
 horses. Lincoln County affords as good opportunities for rais- 
 ing draft horses as any other county in the State. Prices are 
 very high. 
 
 Sheep. Only a comparatively small number of sheep are 
 kept by the average farmer. The pastures would easily fur- 
 nish feed for much more live stock than is pastured at the 
 present time, and the sheep industry would be a profitable hne 
 of farming in this county. * 
 
 Swine. The interest in raising swine within the past year 
 has increased ; however, there are no specialists who are mak- 
 ing a business of swine rai-^ing. A few hogs are kept upon 
 each farm and are disposed of in the local market. 
 
 Poultry. Good sized flocks of poultry are kept by the farm- 
 ers. Quite a number have from 200 to 600 birds — some more 
 
5^ AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 than 1,000. It is the experience of some of the Lincoln County 
 farmers that this is a profitable business, in some cases giving 
 an average of $1.00 per head in profits. The local market for 
 poultry is good at top prices. 
 
 FARM HELP. 350 farm laborers are employed on the farms 
 in Lincoln County during the summer months. Wages are 
 good, ranging from $25. to $30. per month, and there does 
 not seem to be the scarcity of farm help that is experienced 
 in some of the other counties of the State. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 2 
 
 MARKETS. Much better markets have been established dur- 
 ing the past few years in Lincoln County than have formerly 
 been afforded. Many potato houses have been built by the 
 railroads in the small towns. As Lincoln County is one of 
 the summer resort counties of the State, its home market is 
 very good. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 2. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The county is crossed by the Wiscasset, Wa- 
 terville & Farmington R. R. and the Maine Central Railroad. 
 
 Steamboats. As L incoln County is located on the coast, 
 considerable freight is handled by the steamboat lines during 
 the summer months. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total nrmber of common schools 147 
 
 Total number of schools in fanning communi- 
 ties 97 
 
 Total number of High Schools 6 
 
 Academies 3 
 
 CHURCHES. Total number of Churches, 52; Methodist 
 Episcopal, 15: Baptfrt, 12: Free Baptist, 6; Congregational, 
 10: Episcopal, 3 and i summer chapel; Adventist, 3; Roman 
 Catholic, 2. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 Total number of National Banks 5 
 
 Total number of Savings Banks 2 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 59 
 
 Building & Loan Associations 2 
 
 GENERAL. Nearly every farming community is readied by 
 rural free deliveries and telephones. There are seven mutual 
 fire insurance companies in the county that insure farm prop- 
 erty. 
 
 One of the most important advantages of Lincoln County 
 is the comparatively low value of farm lands. There are many 
 farms that are producing comparatively little at tlie present 
 time. These could be made to produce much more by prac- 
 ticing a shorter rotation and better methods of farming. Many 
 orchards could be made to pay double the amount of profit they 
 do at the present time. 
 
 OXFORD COUNTY. 
 
 Oxford County was originally the northern part of York 
 and Cumberland Counties. Incorporated the seventh county, 
 March 4th, 1805. A large part of Franklin County was taken 
 from Oxford County in 1838. Two towns, now in Andros- 
 coggin County, were taken off in 1854. There are 35 towns 
 in Oxford County. 
 
 AREA, 1,981 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, 1910, 36,256. 
 
 POLLS, 1904, 11,660. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $16,177,450. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Paris. 
 
 Lcc\TiON. Situated in the southwestern part of the State, 
 adjoining New Hampshire. 
 
 SURFACE. Hilly and broken, with small fields, except in the 
 Androscoggin Valley where many fine intervales are found. 
 
 SOIL. The soil on the hills is a gravelly loam. In the valleys 
 are found clay and sandy loam. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 4,005. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $4,325,192. 
 
 AVER\GE number acres tilled land per farm, 31. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 5.7. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. The hills of Oxford County afford very fine 
 opportunities for grazing, as many of the fields that are rough 
 and rocky and cannot economically be used for raising farm 
 crops, furnish excellent pasturage. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. During the past few years 
 
6o AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 there has been a decided increase in the value of farm lands 
 in Oxford County. Good'tillage land, located within 2 miles 
 of a prosperous village is valued at $45. per acre. Land similar 
 to this, at a distance of five miles from the railroad station, has 
 a value of about $35. per acre. This value varies according 
 to the kinds of soil and its productiveness, also the size of the 
 orchards found upon the farms. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 4692. Average yield per acre, 
 192 bushels. Total yield, 900,913 bushels. Some excellent po- 
 tato land is found in the county but on account of the com- 
 paratively small fields only a small acreage per farm is raised. 
 On some of the farms located in the Androscoggin valley, po- 
 tato raising is the most important industry, many farmers rais- 
 ing from 8 to 25 acres. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 2,427 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 53 bushels. Total yield, 129,601 bushels. More interest 
 is being taken in raising field corn; this corn is raised princi- 
 pally for ensilage. 
 
 Siveet Corn. Total acreage, 5,105 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 2307 lbs. Total yield, 11,782,239 lbs. It will be seen that 
 sweet corn is one of the most important crops raised in Oxford 
 County. The land is particularly adapted for it, and as good 
 prices are paid at the canneries, this is one of the most profit- 
 able crops. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 8,284 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 36 bushels. Total yield, 301,929 bushels. The oat crop is used 
 by most of the farmers to seed down. There is an increased 
 interest in the raising of oats and this is undoubtedly on ac- 
 count of the high price the farmers have been paying for grain. 
 About 50% are cut for fodder and the remainder are threshed. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 101,867 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 .98 tons. Total yield, 100,200 tons. 
 
 Fruit. No co'.mty in the State excels Oxford County in 
 fruit raising. Good orchards are located upon most of the 
 farms, and although some of these seem to have been neglected, 
 better care is being given the trees at the persent time. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 3,254 acres. Value per acre, $29.99. Total 
 value, $97,606.60. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 6l 
 
 Winter Rye. Many of the dairymen in Oxford County sow 
 winter rye in the fall, using it as a cover crop and for soiling 
 purposes in the spring. 
 
 Wheat. Some wheat is raised in the western part of the 
 county by farmers making a .specialty of poultry raising. 
 
 Barley. About the same acreage of barley is raised as wheat, 
 and it is used for the same purposes. 
 
 Roots. Only a comparatively small amount of roots is raised, 
 and this by dairymen and poultrymen. 
 
 Beans. This is one of the most important crops grown in 
 Oxford County. A few farmers are making a specialty of this 
 line of farming, and the land seems to be particularly well 
 adapted to bean growing. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Although the number of dairy cattle kept by the 
 farmers has decreased some in the last two years, more interest 
 is being taken in keeping pure bred animals. This county 
 is one of the best dairy counties in the State, and some excellent 
 herds of Jersey, Jersey Grades, Holstein, Guernsey and Ayr- 
 shire breeds are found. The number of beef cattle and oxen 
 is decreasing and they are being replaced by dairy animals. 
 
 Horses. About all of the draft horses used have been pur- 
 chased from the West. More interest, however, is being taken 
 in the raising of draft horses, and there are several pure bred 
 Percheron .stallions in the county. 
 
 Sheep. The excellent grazing opportunities of the county 
 offer a good inducement for sheep raising. At the present 
 time only a few sheep are kept by each farmer. There is no 
 county in the State better adapted to sheep raising and as the 
 markets are good it could be made one of the most profitable 
 industries of Oxford County. 
 
 Swine. Considerable interest is taken in swine raising, and 
 it is a profitable auxiliary to the dairy business. Each farmer 
 keeps from 3 to 8 hogs. 
 
 Poultry. Quite a number of farmers are making a specialty 
 of poultry raising. There are also a few co-operative associa- 
 tions which assist in marketing the products ; on account of 
 the nearness to markets, good prices are received all the year. 
 
 F*RM HELP. At the present time 550 laborers are required 
 on the farms in Oxford County. Good wages are paid farm 
 
62 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 help and there does not seem to be the scarcity that is found 
 in some other parts of the State. Wages range from $28. to 
 $32. per month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 4 
 
 Total number of canning factories 13 
 
 MARKETS. Excellent markets for all kinds of farm products 
 are afiforded the farmers of this county. There are sufficient 
 creameries to handle all of the dairy products, and buyers of 
 apples and other produce are numerous. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 5. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools 275 
 
 Total number of schools in farming communities 177 
 
 Total number of High Schools 4 
 
 ■ Fryfiburg Academy, Fryeburg. 
 Gould's Academy, Bethel. 
 Hebron Academy, Hebron. 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 100; Congrega- 
 tional, 21; Methodist Episcopal, 20; Universalist, 20; Bap- 
 tist, 18; Free Baptist, 9; Adventist, 4; Roman Catholic, 3; 
 Episcopal, 2 ; Christian, i ; New Jerusalem, i ; Seventh Day 
 Adventist, i. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 N!ational Banks 3 
 
 Savings Banks 3 
 
 Trust Companies 2 
 
 GENERAL. Good scrvices are rendered the farming communi- 
 ties by rural free deliveries and telephones. There are two mu- 
 tual fire insurance companies in the county that insure farm 
 property. 
 
 Oxford County is principally a dairy and fruit section. An 
 excellent market is offered for both of these products. The 
 soil seems particularly well adapted to orcharding and many 
 of the fields which are too rough to be used profitably for field 
 crops are well adapted to the orchard business. 
 
Farm Scene in Maine 
 
 A Maine Potato Field 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 63 
 
 PENOBSCOT COUNTY. 
 
 Penobscot County was originally a part of Hancock ; the 
 9th county to be incorporated and the last before the separa- 
 tion from Massachusetts, Feb. 15th, 18 16. Contains 53 towns, 
 3 cities, and 8 organized plantations. 
 
 AREA, 3,254 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, 1910, 85,285. 
 
 POLLS, 191 0, 23,218. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $36,473, 700. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Bangor. 
 
 LOCATION, north of the central part of the State. 
 
 SURFACE. In the northeastern part of the county the sur- 
 face is rolling and comparatively level. Although the fields 
 are small in this section, they could easily be enlarged by clear- 
 ing land that at the present time is wooded. In the westprn 
 part some excellent farm land is found which is in the best 
 of fertility. 
 
 SOIL. Nearly all kinds of soil are found in different parts 
 of the county. In the central and south central parts a clay 
 and clay loam soil predominates, while in the northerly sec- 
 tions it is mostly a gravel loam. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 7,056. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $5,789,482. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 37. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 10.4. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. In the northern part of the county there 
 is some excellent grazing land which does not accommodate 
 nearly as much stock as it is capable of doing. In the western 
 part of the county the value of farm land is so high that graz- 
 ing land is not nearly as available. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. This varics Considerably in 
 diflferent sections of the county. In the western part good 
 tillage land is very high, selling for $50. to $100. per acre, while 
 in the northern and northeastern parts farm land can be pur- 
 chased for $10. to $50. per acre. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Acreage, 26,155 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 227 bu. Total yield, 1909, 5,947,727 bu. Taking (he county 
 as a whole potatoes are undoubtedly the most important crop. 
 
64 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 The land in the northern and western parts seems particularly 
 well adapted to potato growing, and much more interest has 
 been taken in this industry during the last two years than 
 ever before. Markets are being developed and m a great 
 many small towns potato houses are being built. 
 
 Field Corn. Acreage, 3,395 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 48 bu. Total yield, 1909, 164,572 bu. There seems to be an 
 increasing interest in the raising of flint corn; the most of 
 this is used as ensilage. 
 
 Sweet Corn. Total acreage, 3,032 acres. Average yield 
 per acre, 3069 lbs. Total yield, 1909, 9,306,819 lbs. The 
 sweet corn crop is one of the most profitable farm crops which 
 can be raised in this county. Many canning factories are lo- 
 cated in the different towns, affording a good market. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 31,446 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 37 bu. Total yield, 1909, 1,193,858 bu. This is one of the 
 most important grain crops and a great deal of interest is 
 being shown in the improvement of oat seed. The crop is used 
 for seeding down and enters into the crop rotation in all 
 parts of the county. About 50% of the oats grown in the coun- 
 ty are cut for fodder and the remainder are threshed. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 193,490 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 .92 tons. Total yield, 178,852 tons. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 7,530 acres. Value per acre, $41.09. Total 
 value, $309,471.86. 
 
 Fruit. In the southern and western parts of the county there 
 are some excellent orchards. More interest is being taken in 
 this line and better care is being given the orchards at the 
 present time than ever before. Very few farmers are engaged 
 in raising small fruits. 
 
 Barley. Only a comparatively small acreage of barley is 
 raised. This is used as a cover crop and for soiling purposes. 
 
 Winter Rye. Very little winter rye is raised. A few of the 
 farmers, however, are taking: advantage of winter rye to fur- 
 nish them with an early soiling crop in the spring. 
 
 Wheat. There seems to be an increased interest in raising 
 wheat and a few farmers, who have never raised wheat be- 
 fore, have begun to experiment with the crop. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 6$ 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Scarcely any dairy cattle are kept in the northern 
 part of the county, but in the vicinity of Bangor, Corinna and 
 Newport some excellent dairy herds are found. Good markets 
 are afforded through the creameries and the milk condensary 
 at Newport. Many of the farmers own pure bred sires and 
 are rapidly grading up their stock. 
 
 Horses. Quite a number of pure bred stallions have been 
 imported during the last two years into this county, and it 
 is encouraging to note that some draft horses are being raised. 
 Practically all of the farm work is done with horses, and in 
 the past enormous prices have been paid for many that have 
 been brought into the county for farm work. 
 
 Swine. Only a comparatively small number of swine are 
 kept upon each farm, — no one making a specialty of this line. 
 
 Sheep. Excellent grazing opportunities are afforded for 
 sheep but at the present time only comparatively few are kept. 
 
 Poultry. There is a decided interest taken in the poultry 
 industry, and a few farmers are making a specialty of poul- 
 try raising and find it to be a very profitable line of farming. 
 
 FARM HELP. About i,920 farm laborers are required upon 
 the farms and sufficient help can be found, prices averaging 
 from $26.00 to $30.00 per month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries lo 
 
 Total number of cheese factories 2 
 
 Total number of canning factories 4 
 
 Total number of starch factories 2 
 
 MARKETS. Bangor furnishes an excellent home market for 
 much of the produce from the farms. Many potato houses are 
 being built in the different towns, and the increasing supply 
 of potatoes from this county is being met by improved market- 
 ing facilities. An excellent market for dairy products is af- 
 forded by the creameries, and there are canning factories to 
 take care of the com crops. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 4. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The following railroads are operating in the 
 S 
 
66 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 county: Maine Central Railroad, Bangor & Aroostook Rail- 
 road and Bangor Railway & Electric Company. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Number of common schools 410 
 
 Number of schools in farming communities .... 286 
 
 Number of Academies 6 
 
 Higgins Classical Institute, Charleston. 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 147 ; Congregational, 
 
 30; Methodist Episcopal, 28; Baptist, 26; Free Baptist, 17; 
 
 Roman Catholic, 18 ; Christian, 9 ; Episcopal, 9 ; Universalist, 
 
 8; Adventist, I ; Unitarian, i. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 Total number of National Banks, 4 
 
 Total number of Savings Banks, 4 
 
 Total number of Trust Companies 4 
 
 Total number of Building & Loan Associa- 
 tions 4 
 
 GENERAL. There is no section of the State that has developed 
 more rapidly along agricultural lines than Penobscot County. 
 The farmers are practicing general agriculture, including dairy- 
 ing, potato raising and corn raising. The county is well served 
 with rural free deliveries and telephones, and has two mutual 
 fire insurance companies that insure farm property. 
 
 There is some excellent farm land in this county and the 
 home markets are of such a nature as to demand all kinds of 
 farm products. 
 
 There are two hospitals in the City of Bangor. The Uni- 
 versity of Maine is located at Orono and consists of the Col- 
 lege of Arts and Sciences, College of Agriculture, College of 
 Technolosry, College of Pharmacy and College of Law. The 
 Bangor Theological Seminary is located in the City of Bangor. 
 
 PISCATAQUIS COUNTY. 
 
 Piscataquis County was formed partly from Somerset, but 
 more largely from Penobscot. Incorporated March 23, 1838, 
 
M 
 
 o 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 p 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 67 
 
 A portion of its territory, nearly sixty townships, was set off 
 and annexed to Aroostook, March 12, 1844. There are 20 
 towns in this county. 
 
 AREA, 3,626 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, I9IO, 19,887. 
 POLLS, 1904, 5,471. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $13,261,923. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Dover. 
 
 LOCATION, north central part of State. 
 
 SURFACE. In the central part of the county the surface is 
 comparatively level, but in the northern and northwestern parts 
 it is hilly and broken. 
 
 SOIL. Around the Piscataquis River there is considerable 
 clay and clay loam, while back on the hills the land consists 
 mostly of a gravelly loam. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 1,741. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $1,396,128. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 34. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 8.2. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. Excellent opportunities are offered for the 
 grazing of live stock in the greater part of the county. In 
 the southern part, however, the value of farm land is so high 
 that it is hardly profitable to use the land for grazing purposes. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. This varics Considerably 
 in the different sections of the county ; in the vicinity of Dover, 
 Foxcroft and Guilford, farm land is high, selling for $40 to 
 $80. per acre. In the vicinity of Milo and Brownville, where 
 the fields are small and somewhat rough, the value of farm 
 land is much lower. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 6,416. Average yield per acre, 
 242 bu. Total yield, 1,555,423 bu. There has been a decided 
 increase in the interest taken in potato raising during the past 
 two years, until, at the present time, potatoes are the most 
 important of the crops raised, the farms in the central part of 
 the county raising between six and fifteen acres per farm. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 988 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 33 bu. Total yield, 1909, 33,133 bushels. More atten- 
 tion is being given to corn than ever before. Considerable 
 difficulty has been experienced in this county in manuring the 
 
68 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 crop on account of the short season; however, by practicing 
 selection, many of the farmers have been able to isolate a 
 variety of corn that will mature. 
 
 Sweet Corn. Total acreage, 454 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 1,785 lbs. Total yield,, 1909, 810,648 lbs. Some of the 
 farmers in the central section raise considerable sweet corn. 
 There are sufificient corn canneries to furnish good markets 
 for the sweet corn crop. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 7,492 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 38 bu. Total yield, 1909, 289,772 bushels. Oats is the most 
 important grain crop raised by the farmers, and is generally 
 used for seeding down. The majority of the oats are threshed, 
 the remainder being cut green for fodder. 
 
 Fruit. In the central section of the county some fine or- 
 chards are found, but in the northern and northwestern parts 
 the orchards are small and have been sadly neglected. The 
 land in Piscataquis County seems to be particularly well adapted 
 to orcharding. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 43,006 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 .95 tons. Total yield, 41,258 tons. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 494 acres. Value per acre, $59.54. Total 
 value, $29,415.29. 
 
 Barley. There seems to be an increased interest in the bar- 
 ley crop and some farmers are raising barley instead of oats. 
 
 Winter Rye. Only a small acreage of winter rye is raised, 
 this being used as a cover crop and for soiling purposes. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Nearly every farmer in the county has between 
 4 and 10 cows. There are plenty of creameries which afford 
 good markets for dairy products. Considerable interest is 
 being shown during the last few years in breeding pure bred 
 stock ; Jersey and Jersey Grades predominate. 
 
 Horses. Very few horses are raised. There are to be found, 
 however, a few pure bred stallions and some of the farmers 
 are raising colts. 
 
 Sheep. Piscataquis County affords some excellent oppor- 
 tunities for sheep raising, but only a comparatively small num- 
 ber are kept. Many more could be accommodated if the fences 
 of the pastures were fitted up for keeping sheep. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 69 
 
 Swine. Nearly every farmer has a few hogs, but none are 
 making a specialty of this industry. 
 
 Poultry. There are a few specialists raising poultry and 
 the majority of the farmers seem to be taking more interest 
 in poultry raising than ever before. 
 
 FARM HELP. Farm help is rather scarce, but this is due, prob- 
 ably, to the fact that comparatively low prices are paid, ranging 
 from $24 to $28 per month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 3 
 
 Total number of canneries i 
 
 Total number of starch factories i 
 
 MARKETS. Owing to a large increase in the acreage of pota- 
 toes raised during the last few years, there have been quite a 
 good many potato houses built at the railroad centers. These 
 furnish a good market for potatoes. A sufficient number of 
 corn canning factories is found which give a good market for 
 sweet corn. Buyers of apples and of poultry products are nu- 
 merous. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total numbcr, i ; Piscataquis 
 County Agricultural Society. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. Transportation facilities are good, the county 
 being crossed by both the Bangor & Aroostook and Maine Cen- 
 tral Railroads. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 .Total number of common schools 128 
 
 Total number of schools in farming communities 81 
 
 Total number of High Schools 7 
 
 Foxcroft Academy, Foxcroft. 
 Monson Academy, Monson. 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 54 ; Methodist Epis- 
 copal, 15; Baptist, 11; Free Baptist, 10; Congregational. 6; 
 Universalist, 5; Roman Catholic, 4; Adventist, 2; Episco- 
 pal, I. 
 
70 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 Savings Banks i 
 
 Trust Companies 2 
 
 Loan & Building Associations 2 
 
 GENERAL. Rural free deliveries and telephones render excel- 
 lent service. 
 
 Some excellent farm land is found in the river valleys of 
 Piscataquis County. These farms have large fields especially 
 adapted to the raising of farm crops. This is also a good dairy 
 county and has sufficient home markets to handle the product. 
 Transportation facilities to outside markets are good. 
 
 SAGADAHOC COUNTY. 
 
 Sagadahoc County was formerly a part of Lincoln. It was 
 incorporated April 4th, 1854. Contains 10 towns and one city. 
 AREA, 259 square miles, including its waters. 
 POPULATION, 1910, 18,574. 
 
 POLLS, 1904, 5,616. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $11,028,473. 
 COUNTY SEAT, Bath. 
 
 LOCATION. Sagadahoc County is situated on the coast in the 
 southwestern part of the State. 
 
 SURFACE. The surface is rolling and somewhat hilly, broken 
 near the coast. Excellent farm land is found upon the ridges 
 extending north and south across the county. 
 
 SOIL. The most of the soil of the county is clay loam with a 
 comparatively small amount of sandy loam which is found in 
 the river valleys. The soil on some of the ridges is grayelly 
 loam. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 1,401. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $1,484,882. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 31. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 7.4. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. Excellent pastures are found on the majority 
 of these farms and afford opportunities for much more live stock 
 than is kept at the present time. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. Jl 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Good tillage land, located 
 within two miles of the most prosperous villages and railroad 
 stations is valued at $50 per acre ; four miles, or over, from a 
 village, about $30 per acre. These values vary according to 
 the fertility of the soil, amount of lumber, kind of buildings, etc. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 5620. Average yield per acre, 184 
 bushels. Total yield, 1,038,445 bushels. There has been a 
 decided increase in the acreage of potatoes raised per farm. 
 The soil on the ridges seems to be particularly well adapted for 
 potato raising and good markets are afforded on account of the 
 nearness to city markets. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 549 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 55 bushels. Total yield, 30,304 bushels. There seems to be 
 more interest at present in raising yellow corn, and many farm- 
 ers are raising more of their own grain. 
 
 Sweet Corn. Total acreage, 628 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 1844 lbs. Total yield, 1,158,253 lbs. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 4,895 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 26 bushels. Total yield, 154,570 bushels. This is the most 
 important cereal crop raised by the farmers in the County. 
 About 6ofo of the oats are cut for fodder and the remainder are 
 allowed to ripen and are threshed. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 35,333 acres. Average yield per acre .89 
 tons. Total yield, 31,642 tons. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 2,072 acres. Value per acre, $25.97. Total 
 value, $53,822. 
 
 Fruit. The ridges of land extending north and south across 
 Sagadahoc County are well adapted for orchards and some 
 large orchards are found here, but they have been neglected 
 and there does not seem to be the interest in orcharding that 
 there should be. No better markets for apples are found than 
 those afforded Sagadahoc County. 
 
 Barley. Practically no barley is raised except by a few of 
 the dairymen who use this crop for soiling purposes. 
 
 Wheat. A comparatively small acreage of wheat is raised by 
 men who are keeping poultry. 
 
72 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Although there has been a decrease in the number 
 of cattle kept in Sagadahoc County during the past two seasons, 
 there has been much more attention paid to grading up the 
 herds, and as a result a much better class of animals i? found at 
 the present time. Excellent opportunities are afforded for 
 dairying on account of the good pastures and exceptionally good 
 markets. 
 
 Horses. Very few horses are raised. There seem.'s to be aii 
 increasing interest in the raising of draft horses, for a few 
 pure bred stallions are now found in different parts of the 
 county. Practically all of the horses used have been bought, the 
 prices ranging from $200 to $400. 
 
 Swine. The average farmer seems to make a practice of 
 keeping about 4 hogs, to which he feeds skim milk and other 
 by-products. Although there is an excellent market for dispos- 
 ing of this product, no men who are making a specialty of rais- 
 ing swine are found in the county. 
 
 Sheep. Although but comparatively few sheep are kept, the 
 average flock seldom exceeding 8, on account of the grazing 
 opportunities of the county this industry would be a profitable 
 auxiliary to the farm. 
 
 Poultry. A great deal of interest is taken at the present time 
 in poultry raising. This is probably due to the markets that 
 are afforded by the nearness to such cities as Portland and Bos- 
 ton. A few farmers are making a specialty of keeping poultry. 
 
 FARM HELP. There seems to be some difficulty in securing 
 sufficient farm help and at the present time only 163 laborers 
 are employed on the farms of the county. The scarcity of farm 
 help may be accounted for by the fact that there is seldom a 
 laborer who receives over $24 or $25 a month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries i 
 
 Total number of canning factories x 
 
 MARKETS. No Other county in the State is better located 
 
 for marketing farm products than this county, as it is reached 
 
 by both boats and railroad, and buyers of potatoes, apples and 
 
 farm products are numerous. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 2, Sagadahoc Coun- 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 73 
 
 ty Agricultural Society, Topsham; Richmond Farmers' Club, 
 Richmond. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The county is crossed in two places by the Maine 
 Central Railroad. 
 
 Steamboats. Much of the freight sent out from Sagadahoc 
 County is handled by the steamboat lines to Boston, New York 
 and other cities. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools 95 
 
 Total number of schools in farming communities 54 
 
 Total number of High Schools 4 
 
 CHURCHES. Total number of Churches, 42 ; Methodist Epis- 
 copal, 8 ; Congregational, 7 ; Baptist, 5 ; Free Baptist, 9 ; Uni- 
 versalist, 4 ; Episcopal, 2 and i summer chapel ; 7th Day Ad- 
 ventist, 3 ; Roman Catholic, 2 ; New Jerusalem, i. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 National Banks 5 
 
 Savings Banks 2 
 
 Trust Companies i 
 
 Building & Loan Associations I 
 
 GENERAL. The county is well served with rural free deliveries 
 
 and telephones, nearly every farming community being reached. 
 
 There are three mutual fire insurance companies, insuring farm 
 
 property. 
 
 Some of the special advantages of Sagadahoc County are the 
 
 comparatively low value of farm lands, excellent opportunities 
 
 for orcharding, and the fact that there are many farms which 
 
 could be bought at reason;ible prices and easily made much more 
 
 profitable by practicing improved methods. 
 
 SOMERSET COUNTY. 
 
 Formerly the northern part of Kennebec County. Incor- 
 ported in March, 1809. Portions of this county have been given 
 to Franklin, Piscataquis and Aroostook. 
 
74 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 AREA, 3,831 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, I9IO, 36,301. 
 POLLS, 1904, 10,371. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $10,978,376. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Skowhcgan. 
 
 LOCATION, northwest of the central part of the State. 
 
 SURFACE. Most of the surface is hilly and broken, with small 
 fields. In the river valleys some large farms are found with 
 excellent fields. 
 
 SOIL. In the river valleys the soil consists of a deep loam; 
 on the plains and hills, a gravelly loam and some clay loam. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 3,642. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $3,842,729. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 42. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 81.8. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. Somc excellent grazing land is found in 
 Somerset County. Not nearly as much live stock is kept as 
 could be accommodated. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Tillage land, two miles from 
 the railroad station, is worth $60 per acre ; the same land at a 
 distance of 5 miles, $30 per acre. Illustration : An 80 acre farm 
 40 acres of which is good tillage land, with a good wood lot, 
 good pasture and good buildings, 2J/2 miles from the village, 
 sold for $5,000. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 12,022. Average yield per acre, 
 205 bushels. Total yield, 2,471,355 bushels. The land in Som- 
 erset County is particularly well adapted to potato raising and 
 more interest is being exhibited each year in this crop. A few 
 potato houses are being built in the villages, and markets for 
 this product are steadily improving. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 1,918 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 44 bushels. Total yield, 85,444 bushels. Although only a 
 small acreage of field corn has been raised in the past, there 
 seems to be an increasing interest in this crop and many farmers 
 are raising more corn each year. About 35% of the corn crop 
 consists of yellow corn of which about half is used for silos and 
 the remainder is shocked. 
 
 Sweet Corn. Total acreage, 3,470 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 1,910 lbs. Total yield. 6,630,378 lbs. The land of Somer- 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 75 
 
 set County is well adapted to sweet corn raising, and this is one 
 of the most important crops of the county. A good market is 
 iafforded as there are sufficient canning factories. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 15,705 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 32 bushels. Total yield, 502,764 bushels. This crop is used for 
 seeding down by most of the farmers. Some dairymen cut part 
 of the oats for fodder, but the majority allow them to ripen. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 125,522 acres. Yield per acre, .85 tons. 
 Total yield, 107,673 tons. 
 
 Fruit. Some excellent orchards are found in the county. 
 Many have been neglected in the past but are receiving proper 
 care and attention at the present time. There seems to be more 
 interest in orcharding recently, and the markets are good. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 1,065 acres. Average value per acre, $55.98. 
 Total value, $59,629. 
 
 Barley. Considerable barley is raised in this county by the 
 dairymen, and it is also used to some extent for soiling purposes 
 as well as for grain. A number of farmers are practicing selec- 
 tion with the barley crop and they believe it can be economically 
 raised in this county. 
 
 Winter Rye. This is used only as a cover crop and the acre- 
 age is small. 
 
 Roots. A small acreage of roots is raised by some of the 
 dairymen. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Considerable interest has been exhibited in dairying 
 the past few years. There are some pure bred sires in the 
 county and most of the dairymen are grading up their herds as 
 fast as possible. Most of the dairy products are disposed of to 
 the creameries. Some beef cattle and work oxen are still being 
 raised, but, as the interest in dairying has increased, less atten- 
 tion has been given this line of animal industry. 
 
 Horses. More horses are being kept each year. Work that 
 was formerly done with oxen is now being done with draft 
 horses. The majority of these are being brought from the West 
 at enormous prices. 
 
 Sheep. Somerset County ranks among the first counties in 
 the State in the number of sheep kept. Very good pastures are 
 
76 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 found, and more live stock could easily be accommodated than 
 is kept at the present time. -No county in the State is better 
 adapted to sheep raising and there are several farmers who are 
 making a specialty of this line of animal industry. 
 
 Swine. There has been an increased number of swine kept 
 during the past few years. 
 
 Poultry. More poultry is being kept each year and there are 
 a few men who are making a specialty along this line. Good 
 local and outside markets are afforded. 
 
 Farm Help. 485 laborers are required upon the farms of 
 Somerset County. There seems to be a little difficulty in obtain- 
 ing farm help, but this can undoubtedly be accounted for by the 
 fact that the wages paid are only from $20 to $26 per month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 4 
 
 Total number of cheese factories 2 
 
 Total number of canning factories 6 
 
 MARKETS. There are sufficient creameries and corn canning 
 factories to furnish a market for these products of the farm. 
 Numerous potato houses facilitate the marketing of this crop, 
 and a good local or outside market can be found for the apple 
 crop and other products. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 5. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The county is crossed by the Maine Central and 
 Somerset Railroads. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools 265 
 
 Total number of schools in farming communities 178 
 
 Total number of High Schools 15 
 
 Anson Academy, Anson. 
 Somerset Academy, Athens. 
 Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield. 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 76; Methodist Epis- 
 copal, 21; Congregational, 14; Baptist, 6; Free Baptist, 12; 
 Roman Catholic. 5; 7th Day Adventist, 6; Universalist, 4; 
 Episcopal, 4; Friends, 2; Adventist, i; Christian, i. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. "JJ 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 Total number National Banks 4 
 
 Total number Savings Banks 2 
 
 Total number Trust Companies i 
 
 Total number Building & Loan Associations... 2 
 GENERAL. The farms in the county are well located, with 
 very good telephone and rural free delivery service. The fact that 
 there has been an increase in population of about 3,000 within 
 the last 10 years shows that people are recognizing the agri- 
 cultural opportunities of this county. Some excellent farms are 
 found in the Kennebec River valley. The county is well adapt- 
 ed to dairying and the markets are very good. 
 
 The New Portland Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which 
 insures farm property, is located at New Portland. 
 
 WALDO COUNTY. 
 
 Waldo County was formerly a part of Hancock. Named from 
 General Waldo. Incorporated Feb. 7, 1827. Territory enlarged 
 Jan. 22, i8;8. Contains twenty-five towns and one city. 
 
 AREA, 748 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, 1910, 23,383. 
 
 POLLS, 1904, 7,157. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $9,746,039. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Belfast. 
 
 LOCATION, in the southern part of State, in center of coast line. 
 
 SURFACE. Very broken, hilly and rocky in the northern part. 
 The southern part is cut up by small areas of wood land and 
 many ravines. 
 
 SOIL. In the northern part, on the ridges and hills, the land 
 consists almost entirely of gravelly loam. In some of the river 
 valleys and lower land a clay loam is found, while down near 
 the coast the land is made up for the most part of sandy loam. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 3,704. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $3,469,423. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 31. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 7.4. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. Much of the land in Waldo County is well 
 adapted to grazing. The pastures as a rule are rough and could 
 not be economically tilled. Much more stock could be kept than 
 is accommodated at the present time. 
 
78 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Good tillage land within two 
 miles from the city of Belfast has a value of about $35 per 
 acre ; back five miles, the same kind of land has a value of about 
 $25 per acre. In the northern part of the county farm land is 
 much cheaper than this. Illustration: A farm of too acres, 
 40 acres of which is good tillable land, good buildings, two miles 
 from railroad station, sold for $1200. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 9,520 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 241 bushels. Total yield, 1909, 2,300,121 bushels. Much 
 more interest has been taken in this crop during the last few 
 years than ever before. ' The land seems to be very well adapted 
 to potato growing, with the exception of wet years when some 
 of the low land is too wet to obtain the best results. The acre- 
 age of potatoes raised in the last two years has increased decid- 
 edly. In many towns potato houses have been built, in this way 
 providing much better marketing facilities. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, about 1,093 acres. Average yield, 
 48 bushels. Total yield, 1909, 53,100 bushels. Not quite as 
 much field corn is raised as could be economically cared for 
 upon the farms of Waldo County. 
 
 Sweet Corn. Total acreage, 1,394 acres. Average yield, 
 2027 lbs. Total yield, 1909, 2,826,130 lbs. There has been an 
 increasing interest in the corn crop during the last year. In 
 some parts of the county corn canning factories have been built, 
 and as a result, more sweet corn has been raised. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 10,345 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 38 bushels. Total yield, 1909, 402,879 bushels. Nearly every 
 farm has a small acreage of oats, this crop being generally used 
 for seeding down. Most of the crop is threshed, with only a 
 comparatively small amount cut green. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 98,395 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 .69 tons. Total yield, 68,111 tons. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 1,029 acres. Value per acre, $46.19. Total 
 value, $47,533- 
 
 Fruit. On nearly all of the farms is found a small orchard of 
 from 50 to 100 trees. The majority of these are old, and have 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 79 
 
 been neglected. The county is well adapted to orcharding and 
 this line of agriculture could be made one of the most profitable 
 if more care and proper management were given the trees. 
 
 Wheat. The poultry specialists of Waldo County are raising 
 considerable wheat, using the straw for bedding purposes and 
 feeding the whole wheat. 
 
 Barley. Some barley is being raised and is used for soiling 
 purposes and for feeding poultry. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. Not many cattle are kept by the farmers in this 
 county, the herds averaging from three to five cows each. The 
 market for dairy products in this county calls for cream or but- 
 -ter and owing to this fact grade Jerseys and Jerseys predomi- 
 nate. A decrease in the number of beef animals and oxen show 
 that more interest is being taken in dairying. 
 
 Horses. Very few horses are raised. There has been an 
 increase in the number used upon the farms and this demand is 
 being supplied by horses purchased in the West. A few pure 
 bred stallions are found in the county and some farmers are 
 raising colts. 
 
 Swine. The average number of swine kept upon each farm 
 will not exceed 4. There are, however, a number of men mak- 
 ing a specialty in this line. 
 
 Sheep. Although excellent grazing opportunities are offered 
 for sheep raising upon some of these hilly farms, only small 
 flocks are found. With a little repair work on the fences, the 
 pastures could be made to accommodate many more sheep. 
 
 Poultry. There is no other line of agriculture that has made 
 more advancement in the last few years than the poultry indus- 
 try. Many specialists are found who keep from one to five 
 thousand hens. On account of the small fields, the land is 
 hardly fitted for raising large acreages of farm products, but is 
 particularly well adapted for such branches of agriculture as 
 poultry raising. Markets are first class. 
 
 FARM HELP. Although the wages that are paid in Waldo 
 County are very low, there does not seem to be such a scarcity 
 of farm help as is found in some other counties. The average 
 wages paid during the summer months are $24 to $26 per month. 
 
80 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 8 
 
 Total number of canning factories 3 
 
 MARKETS. Although Belfast is the only city in the county, it 
 affords a market for farm products, and the good transportation 
 facilities enable the farmers to ship their goods to other markets 
 very readily. Several potato houses are located in the county 
 which furnish good markets for this crop. Buyers of apples and 
 poultry products are numerous. Many of the poultry specialists 
 are shipping their products direct to the city and find it to be 
 much more profitable than doing business with local dealers. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 3. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. The western part of the county is crossed by the 
 Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Ry. On the east, the 
 county is crossed by the Maine Central and Bangor & Aroostook 
 railroads ; there are also several steamboat lines which handle a 
 large amount of freight during the summer months. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools 193 
 
 Total number of schools in farming communities 140 
 
 Total number of High Schools 10 
 
 Freedom Academy, Freedom, Maine. 
 CHURCHES. Total number, 53 ; Methodist Episcopal, 13 ; Con- 
 gregational, 12; Baptist, 8; Free Baptist, 9; Roman Catholic, 4; 
 Universalist, 3 ; Friends, 2 ; Unitarian, i ; Episcopal, i sum- 
 mer chapel. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 National Banks .' 2 
 
 Savings Banks 2 
 
 Trust Companies 2 
 
 Building & Loan Associations i 
 
 GENERAL. Rural free deliveries and telephones give excellent 
 service. There is one hospital in Waldo County, located in the 
 pitv of Belfast. An excellent opportunity is offered in Waldo 
 County to start in farming with small capital as the value of 
 farm land is low and markets are good. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 8l 
 
 WASHINGTON COUNTY. 
 
 Formerly embraced Aroostook, which was taken off in 1839. 
 Incorporated June 25, 1789. Contains 2 cities and 45 towns. 
 AREA, 2,456 square miles. 
 
 POPULATION, I9IO, 42,905. 
 POLLS, 1904, 11,582. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $13,687,471. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Machias. 
 
 LOCATION, eastern part of State. 
 
 SURFACE, rough, uneven and diversified, with small fields. 
 
 SOIL, loam and gravelly loam in the northeastern part of the 
 county, and along the coast clay and sandy loam. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 3,122. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $1,742,957.90. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 22. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 4.7. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. Opportunities for grazing are good in Wash- 
 ington County. Much of the farm land is comparatively cheap 
 and for this reason can be profitably devoted to grazing. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. The valuc of farm land 
 varies from $20 to $40 per acre, according to the fertility of the 
 land and the proximity to market. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 6278. Average yield per acre, 206 
 bushels. Total yield, 1,296,062 bushels. There has been a 
 decided increase in the amount of potatoes raised in the county. 
 Gopd markets are afforded for this crop and nearly every farm 
 has one or two acres. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 31. Average yield per acre, 60 
 bushels. Total yield, 1870 bushels. Only a small acreage of 
 field com is raised ; this is due partially to the short season, and 
 also to the fact that not very much live stock is kept by the 
 farmers. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 4,916 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 37 bushels. Total yield, 184,132 bushels. This is one of the most 
 important crops raised in Washington County. About 50% of 
 the oat crop is threshed and the remainder cut green for hay. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 54,487 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 ,95 tons ; total yield, 52,031 tons. 
 
82 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 2,290 acres. Value per acre, $79.57. Total 
 value, $182,222. 
 
 Sweet Corn. Only a very small acreage of sweet corn is 
 raised in the county. The land is well adapted for this crop 
 and much more could profitably be raised. 
 
 Wheat. Some wheat is raised by the farmers and is used for 
 the most part for feeding hens. 
 
 Barley. Some barley is raised and is used for soiling pur- 
 poses. > 
 
 Fruit. Although considerable interest is taken in orcharding 
 in this county, there are yet many orchards which are in need of 
 better care. The county contains much land that is well adapted 
 to orcharding and the markets are good. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. More interest has been taken in dairying in this 
 county within the last few years, than formerly. Not nearly as 
 many dairy animals are kept at the present time as can easily 
 be provided for, but the farmers are beginning to grade up their 
 herds. There has been a decrease in the number of oxen and 
 beef animals kept. 
 
 Horses. Much of the work that was formerly done with 
 oxen is being done with horses and quite a number are shipped 
 into the county each year. At the present time very few farmers 
 are breeding draft horses. 
 
 Swine. There are no farmers who are making a specialty of 
 raising swine, although a few hogs are kept on each farm. Both 
 home and outside markets are good for this product. 
 
 Sheep. Many more sheep could be accommodated than are 
 kept at the present time, if the fences were repaired. Sheep are 
 found only in small flocks. 
 
 Poultry. There has been a decided increase in the interest 
 taken in poultry raising. Some farmers are making a specialty 
 of this line of farm work and find it to be very profitable. 
 
 FARM HELP. Opportunity is afforded for 354 laborers on the 
 farms of Washington County. Labor is somewhat scarce, but 
 this is probably accounted for by the low wages paid — from 
 $26 to $30 per month. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Miscellaneous Canning Factories. There are many canning 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 83 
 
 factories for canning blueberries, apples, small fruits and such 
 products. 
 
 MARKETS. The home markets for farm products in Washing- 
 ton County are good. As this county is on the coast, there are 
 numerous summer resorts that afford a good market for gar- 
 den truck. 
 
 TRANSPORTATTON FACILITIES. ' 
 
 Railroads. Washington County is crossed by the Maine Cen- 
 tral Railroad. 
 
 Steamboat Lines. Considerable freight is handled over the 
 steamboat lines, boats running daily to Boston during the sum- 
 mer months. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 3. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number common schools 251 
 
 Total number schools in farming communities.. 170 
 
 Total number of High Schools 15 
 
 Academies 3 
 
 CHURCHES. Total number of churches, 108; Methodist Epis- 
 copal, ig ; Congregational, 24 ; l>aptist, 21 ; Roman Catholic, 12 ; 
 Adventist, 8 ; Universalist, 4 ; Christian, 3 ; Dii.ciples, 3 ; 
 Episcopal, 2, and i summer chapel; Unitarian, i. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 National Banks 2 
 
 Savings Banks 2 
 
 Trust Companies 2 
 
 Building & Loan Associations i 
 
 GENERAL. The farmers are well served with rural free de- 
 livery and telephones. As the value of farm lands is very low, 
 excellent opportunity is offered to one starting in farming with 
 a small capital. 
 
 There is one hospital in Washington County, the Chipman 
 Memorial Hospital, located at Calais. 
 
84 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 YORK COUNTY. 
 
 The original name given by Gorges to his Provinces was New 
 Somersetshire. Jn 1658, when Massachusetts assumed and 
 enforced her jurisdiction over the territory, she gave to it the 
 name of Yorkshire, which extended, by the charter of 1691, over 
 what is now the whole State, and retained until 1760, when the 
 counties of Cumberland and Lincoln were taken from it and 
 separately incorporated. The Court of Common Pleas was 
 granted to it in 1659, and regularly held to the time of separa- 
 tion; but the supreme court was not granted until 1699, and 
 was held in Kittery until 1743, when it was transferred to York. 
 
 AREA, 957 square miles. . 
 
 POPULATION, 1910, 68,526. 
 
 POLLS, 1904, 18,134. 
 ESTATES, 1904, $32,401,307. 
 
 COUNTY SEAT, Alfred. 
 
 LOCATION, in the extreme southwestern part of State. 
 
 SURFACE, rolling and somewhat broken with woods. Well 
 wooded with second growth of beech, birch, maple, oak, white 
 pine, spruce and some hard pine. 
 
 SOIL. There seems to be all kinds of soil in small areas. 
 Gravelly loam is found on upland land, some clay and sandy 
 loam on the intervales. 
 
 NUMBER of farms, 4,707. 
 
 ASSESSED valuation, $5,654,621. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres tilled land per farm, 32. 
 
 AVERAGE number acres under plow per farm, 4.6. 
 
 GRAZING LAND. The grazing land of York County aflFords an 
 excellent opportunity for keeping much more live stock than is 
 kept at the present time. 
 
 SELLING VALUE OF FARM LANDS. Good tillage land, 2 miles 
 from a village, has a value of about $45 per acre. At a distance 
 of 4 miles from a village, $30 per acre. The value varies con- 
 siderably according to the fertility of the soil, kind of buildings 
 and the amount of lumber found on the different farms. 
 
 CROPS. 
 
 Potatoes. Total acreage, 5,409. Average yield per acre, 134 
 bushels. Total yield, 729,857 bushels. Although there is an 
 excellent market for this crop, only a small acreage is raised per 
 
w^- 
 
 Oat Field of C. Fred Tripp, Jr. 
 
 (Another View) 
 Oat Field of C. Fred Tripp, Jr., Canton Point 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 8$ 
 
 farm ; there seems to be an increasing interest in the crop, how- 
 ever, for the acreage has increased sUghtly in the last year or 
 two. Excellent opportunities are offered for raising potatoes 
 as the land is comparatively smooth and machinery could be 
 used to good advantage. 
 
 Field Corn. Total acreage, 4,677 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 45 bushels. Total yield, 214,553, bushels. The interest 
 taken in raising yellow corn is shown by the increased acreage. 
 Silos are being built and a large part of the corn is cut for this 
 purpose. Many farmers find it profitable to pick part of the 
 corn and cut the remainder into the silos. 
 
 Sweet Corn. Total acreage, 1,609 acres. Average yield per 
 acre, 2063 lbs. Total yield 3,320,819 lbs. Prices paid for sweet 
 corn have increased within the last year and more interest is 
 taken in this crop as well as in field corn. 
 
 Oats. Total acreage, 4,473 acres. Average yield per acre, 
 32 bushels. Total yield, 147,187 bushels. Practically all the 
 oats raised are cut for fodder, only a few being threshed. 
 
 Hay. Total acreage, 121,835 acres. Yield per acre, .87 tons. 
 Total yield, 106,953 tons. Hay is the principal crop grown in 
 this county. There is no doubt but that the yield could be 
 increased considerably if the farmers would practice a shorter 
 rotation. Many of the fields that have been raising hay from 
 10 to 20 years would yield a much better crop if plowed up and 
 cultivated. 
 
 Fruit. Some excellent orchard land' is found in the northern 
 part of York county, and there are many orchards here which 
 seem to be fairly well cared for. Tliere is a very good market 
 and the majority of the apples are sold to commission men who 
 take them right from the farms. An increase over the price 
 paid by these commission men would undoubtedly be received if 
 the farmers would ship their own apples. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS CROPS. 
 
 Total acreage, 2,010 acres. Value per acre, $36.17. Total 
 value, $72,710. Nearly all of the miscellaneous crops raised 
 consist of market garden crops grown in the vicinity of Saco 
 and Biddeford, and by farmers who dispose of their products 
 to the summer resorts. 
 
 Barley. Some barley is raised by the dairymen, a part of 
 which is threshed and the remainder used for soiling purposes. 
 
86 
 
 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 
 
 Roots. Very few farmers raise many roots. The season is 
 long enough in this county to allow the maturing of corn, and 
 ensilage seems to take the place of roots with the dairymen. 
 
 LIVE STOCK. 
 
 Cattle. The live stock industry in York County consists 
 mostly of dairying, and the number of pure bred animals that 
 are kept seems to be increasing. Excellent markets tre offered 
 by the cities and summer resorts. Grade animals predominate, 
 but many are registered, mostly Jerseys and Holsteins. 
 
 Horses. Very few horses are raised, but during the last few 
 years many have been purchased, as most of the work that was 
 formerly done with oxen is now being done with horses. 
 
 Szvine. Only a very few farmers are making a specialty of 
 swine raising. A few hogs are owned by each farmer. This 
 industry could be made one of the most profitable auxiliaries to 
 farming, as there is an excellent market for this product. 
 
 Sheep. Although there is excellent grazing land for sheep 
 in the central and western parts of the county, only a compara- 
 tively small number are kept. The pastures could easily be made 
 to accommodate a great deal more live stock, if the fences were 
 repaired. 
 
 Poultry. The poultry industry is on the increase. A few 
 men are found who are making a specialty of this business and, 
 owing to the excellent markets, many of the farmers are keeping 
 more than ever before. 
 
 FARM HELP. At the present time, about 537 laborers are re- 
 quired upon the farms in York County. The wages paid are 
 only about $28 per month, and the young men prefer to work in 
 the mills at better wages than on the farm. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Total number of creameries 4 
 
 Total number of canning factories 2 
 
 MARKETS. No county in the State has better markets than 
 York County. Owing to its location, many of the farm products 
 can be disposed of near home, to such cities as Saco. Hiildcfonl, 
 Portland and Boston. Potato houses are bein^; built in the rail- 
 road centers and furnish a market for this crop within a very 
 short distance from the farms on which it is grown. 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. Total number, 2. 
 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF MAINE. 87 
 
 TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Railroads. Excellent railroad service is given the farmers as 
 the county is crossed in two places by the Boston & Maine and 
 Maine Central Railroads. The Biddeford & Saco Electric R. 
 R. Co. and the Portland (Electric) R. R. Co. also operate in this 
 county. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Total number of common schools 283 
 
 Total number of schools in farming communities 173 
 
 Total number of High Schools 18 
 
 Total number of Academies 5 
 
 Parsonsfield Seminary, Parsonsfield. 
 CHURCHES. Total number of Churches, 143; Baptist, 26; 
 Free Baptist, 17; Methodist Episcopal, 26; Congregational, 
 25; Roman Catholic, 11; Christian, 10; Adventist, 8; Uni- 
 versalist, 5 ; Unitarian, 4 ; Episcopal, 3 and 6 summer chapels ; 
 Friends, 2. 
 
 BANKS. 
 
 Total number National Banks 12 
 
 Total number Savings Banks 7 
 
 Total number Trust Companies .' . . i 
 
 Building & Loan Associations 3 
 
 GENERAL. York County is well served with rural free de- 
 liveries and telephones. It has three mutual fire insurance com- 
 panies that insure farm property. 
 
 One of the special advantages of this county is that farm 
 land is comparatively cheap at the present time, and as there are 
 two cities that are growing rapidly the value of the farms will 
 undoubtedly increase considerably in the next few years. The 
 county being situated in the extreme southern part of the state 
 gives an excellent opportunity for raising corn. Excellent mar- 
 keting opportunities are offered, and good transportation facili- 
 ties by rail and steamboat lines are to be had to Boston and 
 New York.