The Portland daily press., 1896-02-10
FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
An Interesting Institute Held at Yarmouth
ON Saturday.

All AnuofeStlnB AubClCuue delO AT Yarmouth
ON Saturday.
A largely attended Farmers Institute
meeting was held in Masonic hall, Var
mouth, Saturday. 1t was the first meet
ing of the kind that has been held In the
town; and the chief credit of bringing it
about is given to Mr.. e. G. Blanchard Of
Yarmouth.
The programme Of the days proceed
ings was az follows:
10 a. ma Few Farm Questions, by
Secretary McKeen.
1.30 p. m.-Struoture the Foundation
of Purpose by DR.. g NJ. Twitohell of
Augusta.
z3o p. m.-The Farmers Garden. by
Charles S. Pope of Manchester.
Hon. B. Walker MoKeeu, secretary of
the Maine Board of Agriculture in his
address on "a Few Farm Questions
explained that an understanding of its
fundamental principles was the chief aid
to successful farming. This included
a knowledge Of the character of the soil.
of the structure and nature of plants
and of the structure and habits of
domestic animals. He said that the gov
eminent had expended oversa million dol
lars during the past year on matters re-
lating to farming and that farmers them
selves had begun to make Investigations
on large scale regarding the best
method of handling stock. The day for
sneering at book farming was past. Book
farming was now to the farmer what
booklearning was to the physician, the
lawyer and the clergyman.
Farmers should study the most efficient
and economical methods of production so
as to be able to get the best goods on the
market at the least possible cost. They
| should also seek to obtain the widest
possible market for their prod ducts They
| should initiate the methods of other
manufacturers in this respect They
the most effective labor saving imple-
ments.
A discussion followed in which several
members Of the audience took part. In
the afternoon Dr. G. NJ. Twitchell of
Augusta spoke On Structure the
Foundation of Purpose using liv ing
COW as an object lesson, by which to
illustrate the points Of his discourse. He
explained the desirable and undesirable
points in dairy COW, and showed that
cows structure is of vital Importance re-
garding her worth as a producer of milk
and butter. The methods of agriculture
need to be adapted to modern conditions.
The larger production and keener COM
petition of today must be met by in
CREASED skill and superior machines. The
decrease of cost in articles to the producer
and consumer must be attained by de-
crease of cost in the process of manufao-
ture. On this principle the best COW at
tainable was needed. A COW is wonder
full machine and the greatest effort and
care are called for in breeding her, feeding
her and handling her 50 as to obtain from
her the best results from the amount of
food consumed. He stated that the merit
OF cow does not depend so much on her
breed as upon her typs. There are poor
specimens among thoroughbred stock and
good specimens among ordinary stock
He urged selection in breeding for the
purpose of gaining the most desirable
type and greatest individual value in the
animals. He described the difference in
structure and disposition between the
dairy COW, the beef cow, and the milk
beef COW. He declared that the produc-
ton of milk and Dutter is the most
profitable business for American farmers.
and that Cumberland county within
radius of six miles from Yarmouth ia an
excellent ground for it's successful DUR.
suit. Farmers are both producers and
manufacturers. It behooyes the farmers
of Cumberland county to increase the
productiveness Of their dairy herds. The
key to the question of structure is what
kind of COW is most profitable to the
Maine farmer. The answer is the breed
| ing by careful and judicious selection
of the type best adapted to giving milk
based on Jersey stock was the best way
to build up valuable herd.
In the discussion that followed, Warren
H. Vinton, Esq, and several others made
pertinent remarks. At the evening
session Mr.. Charles S.Pope of Manchester
spoke on the Farmers Garden" and
his interesting discourse was heard by
large audience Of which women and chill
dren formed considerable part.
The farmers of Yarmouth expressed
great satisfaction with the meeting and
predicted that the work of the institute
would be most beneficial to the interests
Of agriculture in the neighborhood