The Republican journal., 1907-08-01

THE ANNUAL REPORT or COMMITS
sIONER GILMAN.

THE ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMITS
SIONER GILMAN.
The annual report of Hon. A. w. Gil
man of Foxcroft, commissioner of agri
culture, has been submitted to the Gov
ernor and Council. He says, in part:
''In reviewing the work of this de
partment for the past year, we feel thai
encouraging results have been obtained
Our State is showing a continued prog
ress in agricultural lines, and it is be
coming pref minently an agriculture
State. Its agricultural resources and
possibilities are every year more fully
realized. Our efforts to interest the
farmers in acquiring the knowledge
which is essential to the highest sue
cess in their calling have been attend
ed with a great deal of success. The
farmers institutes have been largely
attended, and an increasing interest
manifested in the reports and bulletins
published by the department and in all
the methods by which we have endeav-
ored to disseminate information along
advanced agricultural lines. The courses
in agriculture at the University of
Maine have been more fully attended
than ever before, and the extension
work of the university, aided by this
department and the grange, has been
productive of much good.
"We believe that the quality of the
animals kept upon our farms as rule
is continually improving. While we
regret to learn from the report of the
board of State assessors for 1906 that
in several classes the numbers have
decreased somewhat, yet it is our opin-
ion that the increase in individual value
is such that the total value of our farm
stock has been increased. This increase
in value is especially noticeable in the
case of our dairy cows, and we are glad
to know that the dairymen are realizing
more fully than formerly the necessity
of improving the quality of their cows,
in order to obtain the best success in
their business.
eve regret to find that the number
of sheep in Maine has further decreased.
We still feel that this industry offers
many inducements to our farmers. The
product of the sheep, both in wool and
lambs, is bringing an increased price
from year to year. There is no branch
of stock husbandry that the farmer can
engage in that is so sure of yielding a
large profit as this industry.
THE high price of poultry products
the past year has given an encouraging
aspect to the poultry industry, and this
is receiving increased attention. Many
of our farmers are realizing that small
flock of hens intelligently fed and cared
for will add an appreciate amount to
ri
the business is carried on quite extern
sivelv, with good success.
''The dairy interests of the State have
received much attention during the past
year, aud we are pleased to note mark
ed progress in this line. The quality of
our dairy products and the methods en-
improved. Through the efforts of our
accomplished for the benefit of both
producer and customer. The milk sup
ply of the principal cities and larger
towns has been thoroughly investigated,
and the illegal sale of imitation dairy
products carefully looked after. The
inspection of creameries, and of diaries,
as far as practicable, has been con-
tinued. Much has been done in the
line of promoting spirit of co-opera-
ton between the creamery operator
and the patrons.
''The work of disseminating informa-
ton in relation to and suppressing dam
gerous insect pests has been faithfully
carried on. All nurseries and many
orchards have been inspected, and much
work done among the schools and
oranges. A vigilant educational cam
paign against the broWn-tail moth has
been kept up. Cities and towns, as well
as individuals in the infested district,
as rule have manifested much inter
est, and many of them have done excel
lent work in the destruction of this
pest. A very large number of winter
nests have been destroyed, thus pre-
venting Unreasonable ravages among
our fruit and shade trees. While we
cannot expect to completely extermi-
nate this insect or entirely check its
spread, until some parasite is found to
aid in its control, if every city, town
and individual owner of infested trees
will use their best efforts to keep their
property free from the pest, its devasta-
tons will be greatly reduced. A con-
tinued warfare must be kept up.
"a good deal of interest has been
manifested in the farmers institute
work during the past year, and the
character Of the instruction at these
meetings has been of the highest. 1t
is important that the farmer should
know what has been done and what
is being done by others engaged in the
same occupation, and the farmers in
stitutes are valuable source of OBJ
tanning information in these lines.
They awaken the farmers to sense of
their opportunities and show them how
to take advantage of them. Thirty
four regular Institutes have been held
during the year, in the different coun-
ties of the State.
The agricultural societies of the State
have met with about the usual amount
of success for the past year. The ex-
hibitions held by our three State So
cieties were unusually large and ill.,
structive, and at many Of our county
fairs the display of stock and farm
products was exceptionally fine. We
are pleased to note an increasing ten
depcy, on the part of some of the So
cieties, to adhere more closely to the
lines of a strictly agricultural fair.
1t is our opinion that this policy will
not detract from the financial success,
and that such fairs will have more in
tluence upon the improvement of agri-
culture.
1.-The following figures show the bust
ness of these societies for the past
year: Number of horses and colts ex-
l.