The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1886-12-29
AGRICULTURAL AIMS,

There has been much complaint in
many of the States of the Union OF I'M
lust burdens which ret upon agriculture
on account of the lack of legislative and
Congressional action. We sympathizc
with those who unjustly suffer, but it ap =
pears to me that in our OWN State the
farmers have no reason for complaint.
our State has made generous appropria-
lions for our Agricultural College, Board
of Agriculture, Agricultural Societies
Experimental Station, and has always
given such bounticS and protection by
special legislation as the interests of the
farmers have demanded. As long as our
organization continues rs large and intel
lgent and aS well disciplined rs now,
there can be no fear but that the State
will listen to every reasonable demand of
agriculture. our railroad companies have
been liberal to the public. Our members
of Congress voted in favor OF the olcomar-
garine bill. They have favored taxing
spurious dairy compounds. They have
advocated the protection OF our agrl-
cultural productions from foreign com
petition 1t is the desire of the Patrons
of llusbandry that they should favor the
provisions of the Reagan bill rs far as it
is intended to regulate the rates of trans
portation in the interests of the great
public. 1t is the desire of our organza-
ton that the provision of tie Hatch bill
should become a law. which will give to
the State and Our Agricultural College the
benefits of an experimental station at ma
tional expense, thus relieving us of the
burden of our present appropriation. 1t
is also our wish that the Commissioner
of Agriculture should be promoted and
4 ri , (n, Of
the President. To the end that the inter
ests of agriculture should receive all tie
protection and aid it deserves from our
Congress and Lcgisa urc, we invite the
special consideration and influence of the
Patrons of llusbandry of our State The
farmers of Maine are personally interest
IN the immediate passage of the "llatch
)ill, whcc will give To our State $l5,O 900
annually from the National Treasury for
he maintenance of our agricultural cX-
station. call upon the Pat |
'ons of Husbandry of our State to i'm |
,rcss upon our members of Congress the |
Importance of action and speedy work |
hat we may have more means to develop
he advantages of this most beneficial in
titutiom.
Agriculture has always had, and should
ontinue to have, controlling influence
ver the business pursuits of the great
ody polite. The waters # the great
cean furnish the true level of all the
avs and inlct> which form Il part of its
esign and extended usefulness, so agri-
ulture, being the original source of all
roductive industries, is the power which
egulates labor and furnishes the matcri
basis for prosperity, and fortunately, ,
presenting the ocean of labor, life and ,
usiness relations through it and by it all $
he interests of the country should and do /
nd one common level. If agriculture {
likes the lead of all other vacations, /
,cds and cloti cs the nation, gives life
nd material to the manufacturer, and J
uSncss to sails of commerce, those who q
blow it should be proud of such Il lead
u position, and do all in their power to
ignify and elevate it. There are many {
ays which if followed will make farm II
II more profitable. 1t should be made
ore attractive. rhe hermit lives at the r
Dot of the ladder. He is isolated unso h
al and repulsive. He subsists on the
atural productions of the soil, and his =
,verings and clothing are of primitive ~
laractcr. 1t is a long distance from his i,
I'VE or hut to the surroundings of en- !,
ghtend civilization, such as YOU find in /,
lltured society. Ill along the line, from !
lie hermit until you reach an educated
nd refined family, you will find different u
rades of happiness, intelligence and en- e
yhtenment In order to reach the top r
the ladder beautify your homes with :
lade trees, vines and flowers, remember !
e day appointed by the Grange rs Arbor :