Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-04

socie'les not otherwise provided for by
| iaw- 3I.6l: per cent. of increase in
awards. 2: number Of societies receiv-
ing stipend. a.; increase from 1898. |.
Concerning the good roads movement
he gives ideas that are exactly in line
with those of the l.. A. W.. the organi-
cation that for years has been irving
to get better highways in the State.
Regarding this he says:
The Legislature of 1897 broa dened
the work of the board by giving it au-
thority to gather statistics and publish
| matter relating to the care and main
tanning of highways. In the work as
at present conducted. it seems i'm
possible to make such advances in the
direction of improved highways as are
very much to be desired. 1t has not
been found practicable to incorporat ate
the work into the Institutes to any
great extent. and while we have en-
deavored to keep the work in hand. we
have not accomplished as much as il
Is hoped we may the coming season
ana we ask the members To take the
matter under Amusement at this ses
sion. to ascertain if some plan cannot
be formulated whereby more NAV he
done to benefit the highways of the
State. The bulletins and other publi-
cations of the department of agricul-
ture 1t Washington are sent to MANY
Of our road commissioners and arc
valuable in their line. | believe tha
Improvement of our highways mus+
come largely through educational
measures. and that there is need of =
Ia, ,c
that the fun value of better roads IL
not appreciated. Much benefit would
accrue from the clearing out of
hedges. and removing distractions
which cause the drifting of snow. The
general adoption of snow rollers for
winter road breaking would mate
rally lessen its cost, and liberatc uuitn
a proportion of the money now appro-
priated for highways for use in sum
mer. in permanent improvements. |
believe from a somewhat careful ana
extended observation of the country
roads Of our State that there is an i'm
provement manifest, that they are
generally better graded. better
moulded. freer from loose stones ana
other distractions than formerly. This
during the past year"
Concerning the farm prosperity. he
says that the farms have never ap-
peared more prosperous than at the
present time. There is a disposition
to take every possible advantage of
advanced methods and to be abreast
of the times.
In reviewing the work of the year.
w. NJ. Munson, president of the state
Pomological Society says: Concerning
the fruit interests of Maine, the past
year has been remarkable chiefly for
the uneven distribution of the crop
ana for the severe attacks of the forest
tent caterpillar. Many of the best or
chards in the State failed to produce
a crop, this year. while others pro
duced an abundant crop. For in
stance. one Of the largest orchards in
kcnnebec county produced barely 30l
barrels If fruit while the orchards Of
Aronstook county We're burdened. One
firm in Presque Isle shipped more than
l.jU0 barrels. There is little doubt
that the reason for this irregularity in
the fruiting Of Maine orchards. lies pri-
marily, in the lack Of proper care; the
trees We're allowed to overbear in 1896
ana Were 50 weakened that few fruit
buds We're formed during the next
year or so. On this account little at
tention was given to tillage, pruning
or spraying. and when the caterpillarS
came in 1897 and 1898, the trees We're
Still further weakened Therefore.
even though apparently free from dis
ease and insect attack. this year there
was a lack of buds for producing the
desired results. In general, those or
chards which have received the same
care during the unprOductive years a.
when a full crop was expected. have
repaid that care in this year. VIII
fruit was scarce and prices We're high.
In many parts of kenncbec. Frank
lin and oxford counties. the orchards
were seriously attacked by both forest
and apple tree tent-caterpillars The
timely use of Paris green, however.
in most cases proved an effectual
means of protection. In kennebec
county. n band of paper placed around
the trunks Of the trees, and covered
with n mixture of lard and Sulphcr,
proved an effective barrier to the
half-grown catcrpillars which migrate
from the forest or from ncighboring
trees.
"The crop of small fruits was seri-
ously reduced by the long drought of
the summer, but, rs with the orchard
fruits. those plantations which Were
thoroughly titled ana cared for. gave
satisfactory returns. | wish to en-
phaeiZe, in this connection, the fact
that success in fruit growing comes
only as the result of patient, persistent
effort, and the three elements to strive
after are: More fruit from individual
plants: fruit of better quality, and the
application of business principles in
grading packing and marketing"
The report of the cattle commission
ers is also embodied in the report.
From an examination of the report il
is seen that during the year Ia cattle.
IS horses and one hog We're destroyed
the average amount paid was $20.42
each During the year there has been
n decided increase in the work of the
board. The tuberculin tests are made
only on a written request of the owner
to the board of health or the veterinl-
rian. That the work is the greatest
value to the farmers is shown by the
report which says: