Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-03
DAIRY TOPICS
Discussed at State Creamery
Conference at Skowhegan.
Ninety-three Butter and Four Cheese
Entries for Prizes Offered.
Several Special Prizes Also Awarded-very
Interesting Session Enjoyed.

| Skowhegan, Dec. 2.-(SpeciaD. The
| morning session of the State dairy CON
| ference was held in Coburn hall and
was largely attended by the reprcsen-
tativc farmers Of the county and State.
The session opened with an exhibition
of the working of the different kinds of
dairy apparatus. 1t was interesting to
those who have but faint idea of
what dairying means. The exhibit was
made On the stage.
| The exhibition was followed by an
address of welcome by Gen. Il. Il. Shop
herd, who spoke as follows:
| Gentlemen Of the Maine State Dairy
| ing Association:
| II gives me pleasure on behalf of the
| citizens Of our town to extend to you
! q cordial and hearty welcome. We are
| pleased to have you come here to dis
| cuss principles. perform experiments
| and conduct scientific Investigations
| that lead TO more intelligent and profit
a bile methods in this branch of agricul-
ture.
| The display We're. Of improved nipple
| ments employed in your industry. the
powers enlisted in your service are Il
hopeful sign of a brighter and happier
future. There is an inspiration in
thinking what the future of dairyine
may be. when SO much has been ac-
compiished in SO few years.
Too much credit cannot be given 10
you gentlemen. and to our very eff
cient secretary of the board of agricul-
mn, t,,sa ~,
has displayed in collecting facts and
statistics and disseminating them
among the people
And while agriculture is among the
earliest pursuits of civilized man. there
has been little or no progress until re-
cent years in scientific agriculture. II
Is true the improved implements for
cutvating the soil have kept pace in
a measure with the improved machin-
cry i'll other departments of business.
Schools and colleges have been in opera
ton for hundreds of years to educate
men for the professions of law, medi-
cine. divinity. literature and general
business; but not until within the last
80 years has there been a thought OF
our educated farmer.
Not until 1851 was there any move
nent in this country toward establish
ing a school in which the principles of
agriculture should be taught. About
this time Horace Mari. that prince Of
educators este blished in the state of
Michigan a school in which instruction
in agriculture was special feature.
By the munilicence Of the general
government there has now been estab-
iished an agricultural college and an
experiment station In every state, and
for the purpose of defraying the ex-
penses of professors and teachers. Con-
gress makes an annual appropriation
to each college and experiment station
Of about $4,000.
Professors and teachers to the num-
Der of 1900 are engag ed in giving in
structions and in experimental work.
The number Of students at the close
Of the fall term of 1896. studying in our
agricultural colleges was trine over
5000.
But farmers sons in many Of the
states, especially in the East have been
slow to avail themselves of the 'oppor-
tunities furnished for the scientific
study of agriculture. In the West
much larger number - or 50 per cent.
Of the students take the course in aeri-
culture and adopt it as profession after
graduation.
In the East the course of agriculture
has not been "A favorite The course Of
civil, mechanical and electrical engi- |
neering has presented greater attrac-
tons and more ready means of earning |
a competence So that Of the t6S living |
graduates of the Maine State College |
efl IN,
suits or little more than per cent. |
This does not include those who have |
taken the short course in agriculture |
or who have studied in the dairy |
We as farmers Of the State of Maine
have been slow to believe in our coll |
ieGe. Our course has been one of hes
itation and uncertainty Now it would |
seem that the time of hesitation and
lack of interest is past. II our aban-
doned farms are to he reoCcupied: if
fertility is to be restored to our ex-
hausted soil; if farming is to become a
hourishing, prosperous business: if
farmers are to become educated, in
telligent. scientific men, then must our
agricultural colleges and experiment
stations devise the methods and point
out the way. If insect pests are to be
destroyed or rendered harmless if
disease in animals is to be stayed or
we must look to our agri-
cultural colleges and experiment sta
lions to devise the means and develope
the methods.
Let us then be loyal to our college.
nave faith in her methods. have faith
in her ability to unlock the secret
treasures that lie hidden in the soil.
Let us have faith like the old negro
preacher in Georgia. who at the close
II his service was accustomed to an
nounce the subject of the next Sun
lays discourse. On this occasion he
gave out his subject for the next Sab
cath. The Creation of Woman" His
boys, desiring to have some
fun with the old preacher, contriyed
20 paste two leaves of the Bible to-
sether so that the text would in part
le from the description of the creation
md a part be from the building of
Noah's ark. The old preacher opened
lis Bible and read, And the rib which
The Lord. God had taken from man