Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-18

the pest was organized. The Selectmen
and citizens of the town manifested
great interest in the matter, doing all
in their power to aid US, and practically
all Of the winter nests were secured
and burned. thus preventing any seri-
ous injury during that season. During
the latter part Of the summer several
reports were received that the moths
were present in large numbers at the
Navy Yard in Portsmouth and were
finding their way into some of the
towns in the southern part of the State;
also that they We're being carried by
boats TO soma of the coast cities ana
| towns. We fear that this pest VIII be
| n serious menace TO our State the COM
ing season unless measures are taken
| 10 control it.
| DIR DAIRY INTERESTS.
The dairy industry sun hoids It's
Mace in the foremost rank among our
| farming industries. From April 1, 1913.
| TO Aprji /. 1904, there was an increase
| in thr number Of COWS as reported Ly
| rho local assessors to the State asses
! sors of more than 6.000. There has
bce,, an advance in me quality of our
| dairy products and an Improvement in
| ,,,ethods. due to L large extent to the
untfrln. efforts Of our Dairy Instructor.
| ,rh. work OF the Instructor during the
noct wear mas been carried on system
oticaIly. BY counties. He has visited
The ereameries and cheese factories,
Giving information and assistance in
The work and co-opera ting with the
managers fO- better PRODUCTS and
cheaper production, thus bringing bet
Ter prices to the producer. He has also
visited the patrons and private dairy
men. testing milk and cream when de-
sired. giving aid and instruction. and
trying in every way to improve the
dairy practices and assist i'll producing,
more uniform product and one that
will bring higher price in the market.
a better relation is being established
between the producer ana manufacture
or, and there is Il growing tendency
towards cooperation along all the lines
Of this industry. Thu report of the In
structor will appear in this volume.
FARMERS INSTITUTES.
The farmers institutes held during
the past year have been generally well
attended, and 4 good interest has been
manifested. The interest in these
meetings and applications for them are
continually increasing. This class Of
meetings IS especially instituted rs a
medium through which to reach the
farmer who has passed the age when
he can attend an agricultural college or
other institution. The absence of agri-
cultural instruction in our elementary
schools makes il of more Importance
that the farmer receive definite infor-
nation regarding improved methods of
agriculture and the principles which
lie at the foundation of progress in
agricultural practice. 1t is the Dur-
pose to take the latest discoveries or
developments in scientific agriculture
and place them before the common
farmer in such a manner that they
may be thoroughly understood; also TO
give the farmers the practical expert
ence of those who have been most sue
cessful III agricultural lines, and the
stimulation resulting from contact with
each other and n discussion of their
work. An endeayOr is made at all
times to have the subjects of practical
interest To the localities in which the
meetings are held. While the publica-
tlollN vi Liz OlIlIt NAY ltdCH IL
number OF people in the aggregate. in
car openion more direct and immediate
benefits can be given to the farmer
through the institutes. as the publica-
tons must be of n general nature,
while the institute lecturer who is sue
ceSSful will grasp local conditions and
help the farmer TO understand how to
apply the principles and practices he
is trying to teach. The question box
has been given more prominent place
in the institutes during the past year
than heretofore. This feature seems
TO add interest to the meetings, bring
ing out information on subjects which
Immediately concern the farmers.
F'orty-two institutes have been held.
located in all the counties of the State.
The following are among the subjects
which have been treated: Dairying,
fruit culture. fertilizers, soil making
and preservation, corn culture. potato
culture. pork production. poultry Gull
ture, soil cultivation. plant life agri-
cultural education, general farming.
stock raising, sheep husbandry, and
the farmers home.
The speakers from out of the State
have been as follows: Prof. F. W.
Rane, Durham y. H.; Prof. ]. L. Hills.
Burlington, Vt; Prof S. T. Maynard,
NorthborO, Mass: David s. Kelsey,
Hartford, Conn; c. F. Chapman. Itha-
ca, n. Y: c. B. Hoyt. Sandwich, y. H.;
Prof. F. w. Taylor, Durham, y. H.;
and P. NJ. HARDWOOD, Boston, Mass.
The institutes have been aided much
~ the prao teal, successful agriculture
al people of the State. AS they are 81
familiar with the conditions and cir
cumstances which must be thoroughly
unde rstood in order to obtain the best
results. they play an important part IL
the farmers institutes. The press has
also rendered much assistance in call
ing attention TO these institutes and IT.
arousing the people to the necessity
for a better education on these sun
iects with which they are coming IN
contact every day. Their words or en-
coura cement have strengthened nc
agricultural sentiment for improved
methods and more thorough work.
AGRICGLTU RAJ SOCIETIES.
A good degree OF success was at