Oxford Democrat., 1899-03-21
THE soARo OF AGRICULTURE.

l Iafc eoOHutu uy quo VfOWtucut etoSC ue
partment against another presents rathe
an anomalous condition Of things. In
state cattle commission has done g00t
work In the past and grateful publi
takes It's milk and fills Its nursing bottle
| vith n sense Of satisfaction and securit,
| To q degree that no other New Englant
state enjoys, and inwardly thanks ou
cattle commissioners for their ssgacity
perseverance and strict attention to husi
ness Ia ers1icating tuberculosis and 10
fec;ious disease from the herds OF Maine
All this a grateful public acknowledge
with its hat In hand; but the grsciou,
public must be pardoned IL II kicks wher
the commission steps out OF Its way sne
attempts TO squelch, kill and annihilsts
the foremost department Of the state
the State Board Of Agriculture.
The Maine Board OF Agriculture since
It's organization has done good work
that is not saying that Il has always
done the wisest thing and spent the
states money to best advantage for th'
promotion Of agriculture, but it must b,
horne In miod that up tos very recent
period most niggsrdly policy was pur'
sued In granting appropriations TO carry
on work that lcgitimately came within
the province Of the board.
IL Is Of recent date that Maine has been
ensbled TO organize an agricultural de-
partmeut at all approaching either OF
,he other New Euglsnd states 10 com.
pleteness aud efficiency. The work 10
ia present enlarged proportions was
laid out by Secretary Gilbert and subse-
quently carried forward and perfected by
secretary Mckeen TO its present high
efficiency. Those who are converssni
With the history Of agriculture in Maine,
and have followed the progressive steps
which have placed II in the high position
which II occupies to-day, must scknowl-
edge that the Maine board has been ;he
one organized force which has intro.
duced, nursed and helped onward and
upward TO paving basis all the various
lines OF agricultural industry that to-
dsy are giving our farmers living,
msking happy homes, better farms, =
higher appreciation OF the farm and the
farmers life.
Take the one industry Of dsirying
The system OF cooperative butter and
cheese m king WAS first introduced by
the secretary of the board Of agricult-
ure. The perfection TO which the ar; OF
butter making and the completeness 10
which methods and machinery OF the
creamery business Is carried on In the
state at the present time, Is due IN the
efficient aid afforded bv organized effort
of the Board OF Agriculture.
Through the oversight OF the board the
interests OF the farmers have been
guarded, and thousands OF dollars have
been saved 10 the farmers OF Maine
through the salutsry laws that had their
origin and were pushed forward 10 a
place on the statutes by the Maine Board
Of Agriculture.
The institute work OF the board as II
has been carried on, has had the efficiency
and conferred the benefit OF the univers-
ity extension plan which has accom-
plished so highly satisfactory results In
educational lines of work. And this has
been carried right 10 the doors of the
farmers. The hundreds OF oranges
throughout the state have formed the
basis OF sn agricultural educational
work through the institutes OF the board
which hsve been held In their halls and
have proved Of inestimsble worth 10 the
farmers of Maine, snd they appreciate IL.
Objection Ia made 10 the appropriation
Of few thousand dollars necessary 10
carry on the work Of the department.
Vermont, Massachusetts, New York aud
Other states are increasing their sppro-
pristions 10 carry on progressive agri
cultural work and bring TO the farmers
Of these states the best instruction that
can be given. Maine has just begun In
= career that should plsce her in line
with the foremost 10 dsirying, In lines OF
stock raising, and other agricultural in
dustries, and We believe the farmers Of
this good state are not Of mind to tske
backward steps, by sbolishing the board
ot agriculture which has been the motive
power and stepping stone TO our sgrIcult-
ursl prosperity.
No, rather take measures To mSke the
board OF higher efficiency, appropriate
more money for agricultural purposes
aud uses, rather than less. The farmers
need IL aud also deserve it.-Lesiston
Journal.