Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-18

| with the society and it was with the
greatest difficulty that it could arrange
| for institutes in some sections. The
| idea that there was q special law pro-
hibiting the raising of sheep i'm this
manner had also crept in and caused
much anxiety. There is however only
the general statute in regard to cruelty
to all animals and no special law
on this. The matter will be investi-
gated further by the board and facts
and figures gathered relating to the
business.
This lead up to the question of the
cattle ranch about which there was 50
much said a short time ago in Wash
ington county. one of the members
said that there was lots Of natural
grass lands in the section where it was
proposed to lay out the ranch. The
plans as he heard them was not to let
the cattle run wild as they do out West
but to yard them up and house them
in the winter. The grass lands would
be cultivated to produce feed for the
stock. Some considered the plan prac-
ticable.
After this there did not seem To be
anything special to occupy the atten-
ton of the board during the remainder
of the afternoon so a part of the pro-
gramme for Thursday afternoon
was anticipated. This was hard
on those who We're to take
part and it caught many I'M
prepared. As the president went
down the list each one asked TO be ex-
cused until \. G.. Holland was reached.
He had his paper on Small Fruits" all
ready and delivered it. 1t was a very
good discussion Of the growing Of vari-
Gus kinds Of strawberries and black
berries.
Joseph Ellis said he was all ready
with his subject. our Best Crops" "
He handled his subject cxcellently and
without notes. He considered that the
best crops for Maine and especially
for Waldo county are hay. corn and
oats and peas. Hay is the backbone
of Names agriculture. Farming can
not well exist without this crop. The
growing Of stock depends on it and in
directly all the dairy products. one of
the greatest needs of the farm is fer
tiliZers and the best way to get this is
to raise a good hay crop and feed it to
the stock. The sudden loss Of the hay
crop in the State would cause panic
1t holds the same place with the stock
as flour does with man. Substitutes
have been tried hut nothing can fully
take its place. Farmers depend too
much on their hay crop. When there
lis an off year or prices are low it
causes lots Of anxiety because they
have depended on this crop 80 much
Next in Importance to tn" hay crop
he placed the corn crop. More fodder
can be grown on an acre with this crop
than with any other. 1t is better Also
for our own use. The silo is proving
important as it is Increasing the pro-
duCtOn of corn.
The third best crop he considered to
be oats and peas He found that it
was better to SOW grass with some
other grain than alone. Peas and oats
when ground togather made 4 well
balanced food. This should not be
sown late. however. In closing he ad-
vised the raising Of a large hay crop
and to help this out large corn crop.
just as much as possible. ana then SOW
in land with peas ana oats.
President Harris Of the University
Of Maine. was present during the lat
ter part of the afternoon. and at this
point was called upon and briefly
spoke. He commended the work Of The
board ana mentioned the rapidity Of
the changes in its makeup. He CON
Sidered thaS as beneficial as il brought
MI parts of the State into contact and
rs each new member had mis- own par
| ticular constituency which became in
! tereStAd in the work. He mentioned
| the change that could be noticed in
! the bearing Of the college student ls
! he developed during his course OF
thought and study and matured into
manhood. He thought that much the
same change could be seen in the farm
ers as they studied their business more
earnestly ANA got broader view Vt
! their work The discussions before the
| board. he thought, even when they
We're based on mistakened views Were
of great benefit. as they set the farm
ers to thinking more Of their work
| During the past few years more head
has been put into agriculture and more
agriculture has been put into the head
| The splendid results were plainly man
| ifested.
Another excellent feature Of the
! board ne noticed was the harmon
that existed between it and all the
various agricultural organizations O.
the State. The relations with tn,
| Grange We're very cordial, yet not 81
much 50 that any inactivity on tn,
part Of either resulted.
State Master Gardner of the Grange
was also present and was called on