Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-06-09
AGRICULTURE.
Continued from Page Ten.)

ceedinsly high prices at which veal
calves have been selling have induced
farmers to sell their inferior stock and
make an effort to keep only that kind
of stock from which they will receive
a profit.
Fluctuations in the numbers of
dairy cattle to be found upon the
farms will necessarily occur, but these
nave no special significance as far as
the development of the dairy industry
is concerned.
I'VE trust that the increase in the
number of sheep reported is an indi-
cation that the tide has finally turned
and that our farmers are beginning to
realize their opportunities in this di-
rect1on. We are hopeful that this in
dustry will be an increasing source
of revenue to the farmer
"The interest in the farmers insti-
tute work has been unabated. Numer-
Gus requests for these meetings have
been received, and reports of practical
benefit derived from them by the
farmers, which have come to us, are
very encouraging. Although the
work has been carried on along the
same lines as in past years, and of
necessity much of the same ground
has been covered, we feel that these
institutes afford a necessary stimulus
to the farmer, keeping him from the
natural tendency to fall into ruts, and
melting thought and inquiry, as well
as impartng instruction in relation to
improved methods and the results of
the latest Investigations along agri-
cultura! liEes. We believe the farm
ers' institute is no small factor in
the agricultural education of the pco-
pie. These meetings were organized
to meet the demand on the part OF the
farming people for information. and
they are now held in all the states of
the Union, except one, and have q
potent influence on the agriculture of
the country.
"Forty-seven institutes have been
held during the past year, with a total
attendance of 6646 The number held
in each county was as follows. AN
droscoggin county, three; Aroostook
county, four; Cumberland county,
three: Franklin county, four; Han
cock county, three; Kcnncbec county,
two; Knox county, three; Lincoln
county, three: oxford county three:
Penobscot county, four; Piscataquis
| county, two; Sagadahoc county, two;
Somerset county, three; Waldo county
two; Washington county, three; York
county, three.
"The agricultural exhibitions held
by the different societies throughout
Sfof 70 foi, nc
success. For the most part the
weather was favorable, the attendance
large and the interest manifested in
the exhibition of stock and agricultural
PRODUCTS was good. The stock ex-
| hibited was of higher order than
| usual, more thoroughbred and regis
| tered cattle and horses being shown.
Although it is said that the OK has
practically left the State, there was
| the best exhibit of teams of oXens at
the State fair this year than we have
seen for many years.
"While in some of the exhibitions
the original purpose of a fair to edu-
cate the people in agriculture seems
to be somewhat ObScured, it is our
opinion that in goOdly number of
Ethesa. fairs the managers have the
agricultural interests of the COM
| munity at heart, and are endeavoring
to add some new educational features
| this year. The fair, with large
agricultural exhibition, in which the
educational features are prominent.
good anagement and a. clean pro-
gram will be most successful financial
ly and educatonally Maine leads
the New England states in the num-
Der Of fairs held and she must main
tain high standard in the character
of these exhibitions. 1t is very evil
dent that the Legislature believes in
the local agricultural fairs. At its
last session it increased its state
stinend from one and One-half to two
cents for each inhabitant of the
state without dissenting voice. 1t
expects our county and local fairs to
| take higher stand along lines of
| education, and that all cheap vaude-
vile and vulgar shows shall be dis
| carded: that money appropriated by
| the state shall be used for The cx-
elusive purpose of instruction in the
| important industry of agriculture.
| the State. insists that all these OBJ
| jectiOnable features shall be eliminat-
co We trust the managers of fairs
will keep in mind that this increased
| aUpropria tion was intended to dc
| something more for agriculture, and
| that they will realize more fully the