The Somerset reporter., 1898-11-24
The Farmers Institute.

The session of the farmers institute
for this season of Somerset county,
which convened here last Friday was
very we'll attended considering the I'M
favorable weather. The rain was a
hindrance that kept many Of the farm
ers at home.
At H. Is a. m. Hon. George Flint
called the meeting to order and intro
duced S. Ii. Goodwin of st. Adams
member of the board of Somerset
county, who presided. After some
brief remarks by Mr.. Goodwin he
introduced B. Walker McKeen, secretary
of the board, the speaker of the fore
noon.
Mr.. McKeen gave very interesting
talk upon the subject of "Clean Fields
and Good Animals-How Obtained"
He spoke of the modern methods that
new and improved machinery was con-
stantly bringing in reach of the farmer,
and that the old hand hoe which had
stood the test 80 long was being sup
planted by the weeder in the working of
tillage Sops. He gave many valuable
suggestions relative to keeping the
fields clean from weeds. That the farm
crops should be sold through the ami
mails and that the farmer should not
depend on the sale of his products as
70 q n this W fha intQ1li-
gent and progressive farmer can always
get good prices for what his farm pro-
duces. The time for special animals
has come. The facilitating stock grower
never succeeds and beef and the dairy
are represented by two distinct classes
of farm animals. Give them enough to
not 60 to the village or city for grain. Be
seller of this great staple rather than a
buyer. Few farmers realize the carry
ing capacity of their farms. Regularity
in feeding is necessary and stock so fed
do much better and require less feed
than otherwise.
The afternoon session was opened at
80 and hundred or more of the best
farmers in this section were present.
The chairman introduced w. W. Mum
son, professor of horticulture at the
University of Maine, who gave brief
but interesting talk on the "Kitchen
Garden" 1t was very instructive and
many valuable suggestions were offered
regarding this department of farm work
during the brief time allotted to Prof.
Munson. He thought that the garden
of an acre generally set apart from the
kitchen generally brought as much re-
turn as any two or pTehaps five other
purposes A fact on which all will
generally agree
Mr.. Harris of Lyndonvile, Vt, was
then introduced and spoke for nearly
two hours upon the sheep industry.
His experience of twenty-five years in
this particular branch well qualified
him to talk as he did that afternoon.
He believes all leading breeds are good,
but he prefers the Shropshires and they
are what he keeps, having 800 of them
at his farm. He generally makes an
annual visit to the old country in the
interest of this business and contrasted
the sheep raisers of England and Scot
land with the New England farmers and
showed the great difference between
the two countries in this particular.
He had much to say as regards feed for
sheep and answered many questions
asked him by his auditors. Amy farmer
who missed this session has reason to
regret it.
Prof. Gowell of Orono, who was ex-
pected to speak in the evening, was
not present and Prof. Munson occupied
the time in delivering lecture which
was attentively listened to by all.
Fl. Rollins of Chesterville, member
from Franklin county was present. The
meetings were interesting throughout
and another profitable session of the
board of agriculture closed.