Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-15
With the Maine Farmers.


writes interestingly of cooperative
work for improving the dairy He
quotes Assistant Dairy Instructor r.
w. Rednan of Corinna, as declaring
that Maine leads the procession. Mr.
Redman has just returned from tour
of observation through the states of
Michigan and Wisconsin and the
Province of Ontario. He says that
the methods here have all the good
features of those in the places he
visited, and a great many not in vogue
there
That many of these methods are
identical is to be expected, since the
Maine plans were laid after a careful
study of conditions in the West, but
the advance since made here has not
been duplicated there. Perhaps the
fundamental difference lies in the fact
that Maine has carefully planned for
the future, while the Westerners have
been content to simply meet condi-
tions of today. In organizing a cow
testing association in the West, the
state authorities have simply taken
charge of the preliminares and then
have turned the enterprise adrift
Meetings are held only for the cleo
of business. In Maine all records are
kept in triplicate: one copy goes to
the individual member, one to the as
ISOLATION. and the third to the depart
ment of agriculture. Here at Au-
gusta. these records are carefully
checked each month so that any err
rors or omission are promptly spotted
In this way. the work of the tester is
kept up to the mark.
But it is in holding the monthly
meetings that Maine has the longest
lead. 1t is here that the members get
together and compare their experi-
ences in the light of performance
records. Thus they sort out the
best ideas found good from common
experience. and this method is bring
ing about marked progress But best
of all is the spirit growing out of these
conferences. Members come to a
better acquaintance and understand
ing, and mutual esteem is paving the
way for better business corporation
Farm topics are becoming not only
more interesting to the farmers
themselves. but to residents in VIII
lagos and cities, and the liking even
pervades the sanctum of the sane
forum. We have been deeply inter-
ested in some of the points made by
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson at the
st. Paul last week Perhaps his words
were more pleasing to us because of
their voicipg the ideas which have
become something of a hobby of ours
He declared that the most important
farm conservation is undoubtedly the
preparation of farm youth for better
idTlii management. Tie Sa1u tnat we
have inherited our system of educa-
ton that look to the farm for the best
material to reinforce the professions
and industries. Education has. there
fore. prepared young people for
everything but farm life. The
American Congress saw this half a
century ago. and provided for agricul-
tural colleges in all the states These
colleges have grown and are prepar-
ing teachers. 1t is difficult to change
or materially modify the education of
the people interviewer with their his
tory. their industries, their litera-
ture. their traditions and religion, but |
it is being done in our country. Re-
search is accommodating facts along
the life lines of our people. The peo- ]
pie read the publications treating of |
field and forest. the soils and its crops,
the animal and it's well being.
Twenty million pieces of literature
relating To the farm We're sent out by |
the department of agriculture during
the last fiscal year. The state agri-
cultural colleges all contribute to the
volume of printed matter relating to