Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-21
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STATE .B6ARD
Ut Agriculture Holding An
nuaI Meeting at Capitol.
Full Attendance Officers Elected,
and Reports Presented.
Inferesfinn Ee.su.a. -. ~. s,
Interesting Features on the Proara mme 10,
Today and This Evening.

30 ~ luz Z 10 HOW DelNS noI
IN the rooms of the board at the Stat
Rouse. Ihere We're sessions, yester
day morning, afternoon and eyenins
ana there are three more on today
programme all full of interesting feat
ures. The board consists of a membe
irom each of the 16 counties, elected b.
the various county agricultural SC
cleties, two members from the Stat
College, and in addition to these,
secretary elected by the board. @
these 10 members IS were present q
yesterdays meetings, a remarka bl
good showing. Mr.. Lincoln of Wash
ington county, was the only absen
member.
The board for 1897 is made up a
follows: Cumberland, John J. Frye
Portland; Oxford, John +. Talbot, An
dover; York, L. o. Straw, Newfield
Somerset, S. H. Goodwin, St. Albans
Sagadahoc, T. E. Skofield. Brunswick
Aroostook, J. w. Dudley, Castle Hill
Franklin. c. Z. Wheeler Chesterville
Knox, e. f. Light, Union: Penobscot
George N. Holland, Hampden; Piscat
aquis, w. H. Snow, Milo; Hancock
Nahum Hinkley, Bluehill; Androscog
gin. B. F. Briggs, Auburn: Kennebec
w. G. Hunton. Readfeld; Waldo. w
II. Moody, Liberty; Washington, A. r
Lincoln Dennysville; Lincoln, John M
Winslow. Nobleboro; from the Stat,
college. Pres. A. w. Harris and Prof
c. d. Woods. B. Walker McKeen ii,
the popular and efficient secretary c.
the board.
OF these Messrs. Frye, Talbot, Gooc
win and Hinkley, are new members
and brought their credentials witt
them, yesterday. Messrs Straw aut
Skolfield are old members reelected
The term of service is three years
Many of the members had arrived
Monday, and the rest came on Tues
day mornings trains and early in the
forenoon the rooms of the board pre-
sented an animated spectacle.
1t was about II o'clock when Vice
President j. w. Dudley of Aroostook
called the board to order, with appro-
pirate remarks. Messrs Snow, Hol
land and Winslow We're made a com
mittee on credentials, and reported the
new members of the board as men
toned above. Messrs. Hunton, Wheel
er, and Skofield We're made com.
mittee on pay roll. o. o. Stetson wa
appointed messenger. The records
the last annual meeting We're rea.
and accepted.
The election of officers resulted in til
choice of J. w. Dudley of Castle Hill
Aroostool1 county, president; w. II
Moody of Liberty Waldo county, vice
president, and j. w. Dudley, w. II
Moody and w. G. Huntop, executive
committee.
The committee on the joint field day
of the board and the State Grange
held at Old Orchard last August
made brief report. The executive
committee report was read by Mr..
Dudley. 1t was brief, and it's chief
points and recommendations are en-
bodied in the secretary's report given
below. Prof. Woods spoke in favor Of
an amendment to the law regarding
fertilizer control, and Mr.. Winslow
discussed the matter of the distribu-
tion of the State stipend. At nooa
the board adjourned to p. M.
The feature of the afternoon session
was the report of Secretary B. Walker
McKeen, of which extended extracts
are given below:
Report Of Secretary McKeen.
Mr. President, and Members of the Board
In making another report to you, as the
secretary of this board, am pleased to
note that the agricultural progress of the
State has kept pace well with tnat l OF for-
to be a feeling of encouragement along
all lines of work. The necessity for ao-
vanced methods, never so apparent as
now. is fully appreciated by the large
majority of our farmers. and the de-
mands for better work along all lines CT
are rapidly on the increase.
With the single exception OF hay, the
crops have been abundant and. as a rule,
have been raised at a less cost than in
former years. The prices. notably of our
apples and potatoes. have been very low,
so much so that in some sections the
large bulk of these crops remains unsold.
The increased use of farm machinery,
and the better scientific knowledge that
everywhere abOunds. appear to have
served to increase the amount of pro-
ducts without correspondingly increasing
the demand. We look. of course. for II
in prices as the cost of produc-
tion lessons but not to the extent of
driving the goods from the
market. it would therefore seem that We
ought to bend our efforts toward care
fui study of what might perhaps be
termed farm economics.
The Condition Of Maine Farmers.
During the past year ! have made a
somewhat careful study into the condl-
tion of our farmers, as compared with
years past and / am pleased to say that
is + look at the matter IN all its bearings
I am forced to the conclusion that their
avenues for supplying themselves with
tbe necessaries and luxurieS OF life are in
most sections continually broadening.
and as a rule their indebtedness is not
We see our schools ana