The Portland daily press., 1890-10-20
Maine aoard Of AerIculrure.

The executive committee of the State
Board Of Agriculture are'circulatlng the fol-
lowing memorial and petition for signatures
1t Is the purpose Of the committee to secure
the signature of every person In the state. in
terested in agriculture, upon 1t for the pur-
pose Of presenting their demands to the uext
legislature in the strongest possible manner.
The following is the memorial:
MEMORIAL.
Agriculture isleverywhere conceded to be
the basis Of peoples prosperity. On the
farms are reared and educated an industrI-
Gus and sturdy class Of citizens who make up
that great conservative element on which
the stability Of nation Is so greatly depend
ent. From the farms Is received the fresh,
vigorous and active young blood increasingly
called for to replenish the enterprise and the
activity Of the great business centers and
keep moving the varied industries necessary
to the wants OF a refined and intelligent
people. The INDUSTRY and intelligence Of the
farmers annually bring forth from the soil
vast stores OF productions which are vital TO
the same time contribute to the supply OF
material which keeps in motion the various
industries In which the people are engaged.
The decline in population Of the farming
Towns gradually yet constantly going on the
less ming number Of the farm homes; the de-
Election Of money from the farm to other in
Yestments, the growing indifference on the
part OF the people to the desiTability Of farm
ing as means of revenue and as a reliance
Tor prosperity; the shrinkagelin the appTecl-
able value OF farm property In consequence
OF these conditions all these 90 TO show
that our agriculture calls for further enc0ur-
agement on the part OF the state. Other
states are responding to the necessity Of fost-
InAmgtFU
up with what is going on around us the re-
suit OF such oversight viii be still further
depression.
The State Board ofAgrleulture is a depart
ment OF the State government which Is COM
missioned by statute to have in charge the
general interests of husbandry with a view
to the more complete DEVELOPMENT Of the
natural resources of the State. 1t Is claimed
that the State should give recognition TO this
department commensurate with its import
ance.
lin common with the other depart
ments OF State-the Board Of Health, the
Labor Commission, the Insurance Com
mission, Pension Agent Military, etc.,-ths
Board Of Agriculture should DO provided
with rooms at the State House suited to its
work, and furnished with all needed facill-
ties for carrying it on. The headquarters Of
the Board should be, like the departments
named above, at all times at the State house,
aud should be kept open for the transaction
Of business and the admission Of the public.
2-The Secretary of the Board should be
required TO give his undivided time to the
duties of the office and the promotion Of the
interests consigned to his charge.
3-The Institute work of the Board has
been widely Instrumental in promoting the
interests Of practical agriculture through
out the State, and its effects are plainly
traceable wherever this work has been
carried on. More Of 1t Is called for and more
Is needed. The number Of institutes should
be increased, the scope Of the work broad
ened and the character of 1t improved in
conformity to this demand.
The carrying out Of the provisions, In con-
nectiOn with the relief To farm property
through the equalization of taxation now
asked Tor, could not fail Of encouraging and
pOpulariZng agriculture with the rising
generation, and thus would work lasting
advantage to the state. TO this end the
Board Of Agriculture Is directing its efforts
and IL asks the earnest cooperation of eYel
citizen interested in the prosperity Of the
STATE.
THOMAS DAGGETr,
II. w. MckEEN.
Executive Committee Of Board.
Office Of the Board Of Agriculture, Oct. l, 1880
The following is the petition;
To the Honorable Members Of the Legisld-
tltre:
We. the undersigned, citizens Of the town
OF f--interested In its agriculture,
respectfully submit that the present appro-
priation placed at the disposal Of the State
Board OF Agriculture Is entirely inadequate
to the demands made upon 1t, and we would
urge upon your attention the fact that many
calls for Institutes go unanswered for lack
Of funds. And we further present that from
lack Of sufficient funds the amount and char
acter Of the work Of the Board ara not up to
what the magnitude Of the agricultural In
| terests OF the State demand or their import
ance calls for. We therefore ask an increase
| In the appropriation sufficient to enable the
| Board to carry on the work designed for Il In
a manner that shall satisfy the demands OF
the agriculturallsts, tend to give our agricul-
| tuTe character abroad aud place IL en- a level
/ with kindred interests In the State.
We also ask that the salary OF the seere-
| taTy of the state Board Of Agriculture be in
creased in proportion to the demands made
upon him.and equal to those paid the headsOf
other departments oftheState,tO the end that
he may be required to devote his entire time
and energies to the duties of the office, and
permanent headquarters open at all times at
the State House.