Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-02-27

Au 6APOuCuS VI AvAaAuC ASAunssssASs
A most encouraging tendency among
agricultural colleges Is that they are get
ting closer to the farmer and the farm.
The state college at OronO, Me-, Is no
exception to this general statement.
There, the college officials are fully
awake to the importance Of combining
the practical with the theoretical; they
realize that II best results are to be
accomplished, the farmers must be
reached and the college must be some
tangible help to the agricultural in
terests OF the state.
That progress is the watchwOrd at ths
Maine state agricultural college Is again
evidenced in the recent arrangements
for lecture and reading courses to be
conducted in the interest of the farm
ers of the state. Reference has al
ready been made to this line of work in
the New England Homestead. 1t will
be recalled that the enterprise will be
much along the line of the extension
work now in progress in Rhode Island.
In nut shell the college professors and
agricultural workers will on request
visit various farming centers and de-
liver lectures appropriate to the farming
interests of the several communities.
In connection with this, reading
course will be established which will
give every farmer an opportunity to OBJ
tain self culture. This last named
movement is being launched through
the medium of oranges.
An editorial representative OF The
New England Homestead recently visit
cd the college and had friendly hand
shakes with the various professors con-
nected with the agricultural depart
ment. Incidentally a number OF in
teresting facts were brought out. 10
begin with Prof. William Munson, who
is at the head of the horticultural de-
partment, advanced some Of the reasons
why he believes in New England agri-
culture, and why he thinks a young
man could not do better than buy So
called hill farm in one of our New Eng
land states. Prof. Munson practices
what he breaches, for as many know,
he has invested in New England farms
and is covering the land with fruit trees.
lie feels that the horticultural posi-
bilities of New England are not One-half
realized. In Maine, large fruit growing
is restricted chiefly to apples, since
cherries, plums, pears and peaches, etc.,
do not seem to do as we'll as in some
other sections of New England. Prof.
Munson recommends that the Maine
horticulturists give their attention to
apples, though strawberries and other
small fruits, especially gooseberries and
currauts, can be grown with good profit.
The apples being set in Prof. Munson's
orchard are Stark, Tallman Sweet, North
ern Spy and King. The King apple does
admirably in Maine, but its tendency to
fall before harvesting is against it.
Prof. Munson informed the writer that
he is on track of a special strain of the
King apple, which will hang on the tree
until it reaches full maturity.
"Live stock interests, too" said Prof.
Munson, "offer wonderful opportunities
for Maine farmers. believe hay is a
curse to New England agriculture. If
hundreds of our farmers would leave off
growing this crop so extensively and
with such Improbable results they
would be better off. There are hun
dreds of acres producing one-half to one
ton hay and this same land could be
made to produce fruit or food for dairy
or beef animals and would aggregate
three times the profit to the acre to its
owner.
"Our farmers are doing we'll with the
dairying end of the proposition, but they
could do still more by growing more of
their grain aud provision for the stock.
No one has yet been able to convince
duce beef profitably. understand
there are a number of fine Hereford
herds in Aroostook county and that
beef production is meeting with con-
siderable success. believe this branch
of live stock husbandry can be greatly
added to."-New England Homestead.