Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-03-08
FARMERS week
Opens at University Of
Maine at orono'
Three Addresses, so Lectures
And Over 20 Demonstrations.
Opening Nights Addresses lnclud.
ed One by E. p. Mayo.

Orono, March Three addresses,
so lectures and over 20 demonstrations
on subjects of interest to argricultur-
alists compose the program for the
fourth annual Farmers Week." opened
tonight by the College of Agriculture
Of the University of Maine. The OPEN
ing speakers We're A. w. Gilman, State
commissioner of agriculture, E. P.
Mayo of Watervile and DR.. George E.
Fellows, president of the university.
whose subject was The New Agricul-
ture of Maine" Another speaker was
c. S. Stetson of Auburn, master of the
State Grange. Mr.. Mayo said:
Mr.. President, Gentlemen of the Uni
versity of Maine, and Friends of Agri-
culture
l am embarrassed by this gathering of
wisdom and knowledge; this gathering of
we'll wiShers for the cause of agriculture.
| see before me trained experts who have
grown gray in the work we are here to
consider this week. | see Old men who
have striven long these many years to
subdue our hard New England soil and to
harness the fCrces of nature by hard.
grim, relentless physical labor, but who
now gladly recognize the value of brain
over Drawn, even in the work of their
farms, and seek for guidance and direc
ton.
| see. too, a still more hopeful and fas-
cinating class, the large company of ear
nest young enthusiasts who are bringing
to this great work all the ZeSt, zeal and
ardor of young manhood. The sight of
this class, here in such great numbers,
could not fail to make this assembly
most interesting and profitable one.
Now, what are we here for? To learn.
In coming here note book and pencil in
hand as we do, we acknowledge our ig-
norance, but rejoice to know that we are
not so ignorant that we cannot recognize
our deficiencies in this respect. We are
here, one and all, to sit at the feet of
those who have solved some, at least, of
the many mysteries of agriculture, and
who having this knowledge are not only
willing but anxious to bestow it upon all
who come asking for help. And | am au
thorized by the faculty Of this great Uni
versity to say that all its departments
and the entire faculty are at the disposal
of the visitors this week. There are no
barred doors, no silent instructors here.
All is thrown wide open for you. benefit
and instruction. The greater o5e you
make of these opportunities the more
nearly you will assist to fulfill the pur-
poses of this assembly.
This brings me to the subject assigned
me for discussion the few moments |
theme is Maine Agriculture as Busi-
ness
Ever since we knew anything about
agriculture at all there have been two
classes, and let me say right here, that
there always will be these two class s.
The men who conduct farms for the fun
of it. or as Il pastime, without any idea
or care as to the cost or profit. True it
is that many of this class have been the
means of accomplishing much good in the
wav of experimenting with new breeds
and classes of live stock, and new and
untried crops. In this way they have
deserved well of the community and all
lovers of agriculture in all its branches.
They make money in their regular Voca-
tions and take up the farm as d recrea-
ton, and as a respite from their daily
occupation. Hence they cannot be
blamed if they do not attempt to carry
their business methods into their recrea-
ton.
While the experimental work done by
these gentlemen is very helpful, and
those who make them deserve the thanks
and appreciation of all. thev must from
the very necessities of the case. be in
complete and fragmentary. as compared
to the systematic work done by the eff
Cient staff of trained experts to bo found
in the Experiment Station at this insti-
tuition. And right here allow me 20 say a
word as TO the growth of the appreca-
ton of the value of this work to the far
mers all over the State. The time was
not so far distant when but very few of
even our best farmers ever thought of
appealing to the Experiment Station for
assistance in their various p"rplcxitcs
To-day it is the rur for very large
number of cur smaller farmers. even. to
use tn" station on every occasion. where
there is an idea that il can bo Of the
,'n-cs for tie efficiency of tic work per-
fnr'0ed by Or. woods and his staff.
But what of the second class of far
Continued on Page Twelve)