Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-17
STATE HOUSE.
r.
Maine Farmers May Form
An Organization
; For the Purpose Of Directing
Seed improvement Work.
Election Ordered for Co. n, list
Infantry, n. G. S. N.
arA1E HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Thursday, Nov. 10, at 10 A. M.

A matter which will be of general in
terest to the farmers of Maine is a cir
cular which is now being sent out
from the Office of the commissioner OF
agriculture on the subject of seed i'm
provement and the object of which is
the formation of an organization for
the purpose Of taking charge of the
work of increasing the pei acre yield
of crops in Maine through the careful
selection, breeding ard dissemination
of superior strains of seed. Text of
the circular is as follows:
"The work OF increasing the per
acre yield of crops grown in Maine
through careful selection, breeding and
dissemination of superior strains OF
seeds is about to receive the attention
which it deserves. AT the last session
of the Legislature the commissioner of
agriculture was directed to assist the
farmers Oh the state in this special
work and an appropriation W&s made
for carrying ii ON.
1t is pr posed very soon to call !:
meeting of such farm "rS Of the state
as may be interested in seed improve
ment work of any kind, at which time
the advisability of organizing an asso-
citation for the purpose of directing
this work will be considered. ii is be
leved at this time that this work can
best be taken up in a cooperative
way, hence an association will be
formed along the lines of those that
have already been SO successful in
other parts of the country. With the
cooperation of the department of ag-
riculture, the Maine Experiment Sta
ton and a representative OF the de
partment of agriculture, Washington
ID. c. who is located in this state, an
association of this kind ought to meet
with definite and profitable results.
'The Immediate benefits coming to
the members can be clasSeG under two
heads, educational and financial
While the financial benefits would I'M
doubtedly interest the members more
particularly 1T first, vet the education
al features of the work ore of great
Importance Where association work
has been carried on members have re-
ceived great financial benefit through
! the sale of the seed they have raised
This seed having been carefully bred
and possessing large reproducing quail
tiles has met with Il ready market for
seed purposes.
ut can readily be Seen if expert
mentS are carried on year after year
and an Improvement in crop yield is
caused through these experiments That
the seed raised by various members
will carry an added selling value for
that purpose. The educational value
of the association will come through
theresults of the experiments conduct
I e4sapd the lessons learned in this
1t is planned to hold an annual
4 INSISTING at which time exhibits of
SpE grains and grasses will be made
AkIncturcs upon subjects of import
ance to the men engaged in this par
tfcular line of work will be given
The department of agriculture is
prepared to give assistance in the or
ganization and direction OF an assoc
citation so far as is desired. 1t will
also be prepared to furnish to the
members experimental lots of different
Kind of seed to test out in comparison
with the seeds they are already using
meeting for organizing this associa-
ton will soon be called at some CEN
trail point in the state which appears
TO be most easily reached by those
men who signify their intention to be
present If you are interested in this
proposition kindly write at once to
the State dairy instructor, Augusta.
Name stating that fact and giving
your address 50 that at the proper
time notice of the call of the meet
ing may be- sent YOU"
In connection with the above circular
1t may be said that it is the begin
ning OF movement resulting from an
act of the last Legislature amending
Section l of Chapter SO of the Re-
ViSed Statutes. the amended portion
of the section reading as follows:
The commissioner of agriculture shall
gather statistics OF information con-
corning agriculture and publish the
same annually; he shall assist the
farmers OF the State. in SO far as is
practical TO secure farm help, and to
promote increased production of farm
crops through the selection, the grow
ing the dissemination of superior
strains Of seeds. An appropriation of
three thousand dollars annually shall
be made, to be expended by the COM
missioner of agriculture for the pur-
pose of carrying out the provisions of
this section and section fly" of cllaprer
sixty of the revised statutes and for
such other purposes and in such man
her as in his Judgment viii best pro-
mote the interests OF agriculture in
this state
Tn, e Ia,