Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-11

state '7enf ON ologist. and other. interest
ing speakers have delivered many in
terestlng lectures along the line of a
better system of orchard manage
meHt. Personal appeals have been
made to the orchardlsts, but many
are not yet aroused to the full i'm
portance of c%sltivating, fertilizing and
pruning their trees, and keeping them
free from Insect pests.
The dairying industry is growing in
importance as the demand for Hairy
products increases. and the depart
ment has made an earnest effort, dur
ing the past wear, through the State
dairy Instructor. to raise it to
higher plane. An Increased knowl-
edge OF the business is necessary in
order to secure the best results. The
two COW testing associations organ
lied in December, 1907 have been
continued and another has been added,
and the results obtained thus far
have been very encouraging. The
dairyman, by the aid of these as
sociatiors is enabled to learn more
nearly The value OF each individual
COW, and the cost Of production. The
official tester, employed by the as
Sociation weighs and tests the milk
of each COW every month, and ascer-
tainS the amount of butter fat she il
producing and the cost and value of
the dairy ration. Thus the farmer
can know the profit from each in
dividnal COW, and the cost of produc-
ing a pound of butter Eat, and with
tniS knowledge he can select out his
best cows and breed IN his herd.
Every man in the association is also
familiar with what his neishbor is
doing, and is stimulated, by COMPARE
son, to more economic production.
This work will be extended as much
as possible.
I'VE believe that the organization
of breeders associations in connection
with the COW testing associations
| would be of much value. The value
of these organizations is well illus
| trated by the fact that in Wisconsin,
| where many of them are in operation,
| from one county last year 100000
worth of dairy stock of recognized
| excellence We're sold The basis
| problem of dairying is the breeding
of better animals, animals of higher
| productive capacity and stronger con-
stitutions, from which better returns
may be obtained for the feed con-
sumcd. Dairymen should give more
attention to this line of work.
The department has continued its
efforts to impress upon the people of
| the State the importance and neces-
sity of agricultural and industrial in
struction in the public schools. These
| schools should fit for a vocation. The
| population Of this and other states is
| continually increasing, and in order
| for the farms to meet this increase
| there must he a more intelligent SyS-
TEN of agriculture This can best be
brought about by teaching the princi-
pies of agriculture in our public
schools.
| 'The farmer has a business to be
studied and learned. 1t needs Il
trained mind as much as any other
occupation. Let us educate our boys
who are to be the farmers of the flu
turc, for that work. Specific train
| ing of Il practical kind is a necessity
fo~ the coming occupants of our
farms, as we'll as those engaged in the
mechanical industries. The most
valuable asset of the State is her
children. They should be trained to
high ideals Of every day living and to
high efficiency in their respective vo-
cations.
| THE educational departments of
some of the states have already in
| PRODUCED the teaching of agriculture
| into the public schools, and others are
| making strong recommendations in
this line. Maine must keep in the
front ranks. if her agriculture is prop
erly developed. We are Convinced
| that agricultural and industrial edu-
cation must be carried on side by side
| with general education by our school
authorities. We believe that the Stat"
department can care for this form of
education as successfully as il has
cared for the older forms. and that it
| can Go it without great expense by
eliminating some of the other branches
! that are not so essential.