Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-18
State entomologist, Prof. E. F. Hjtchings
Live Stock and Dairy Intorasts

I'VE regret that our farmers have not
| awakened to the full importance Of the
| live stock industry. With better Sc
| lection of animals and more intelligent
| feeding, stock raising would show a bal
ance on the right side. The number of
farm animals should be increasing, but
the returns from the local assessors to
| the State board of assessors show a de-
crease in most classes. The short hay
crop occasioned by the drought of the
past two years has undoubtedly had
much to do with the depreciation in the
number of cattle.
1.-The stock raisers must make a spec
| ial effort to raise more forage crops.
There should be more intensive cultiva
| ton and a better fertilization of the
grass fields. so that larger crop may be
| produced. thus making it possible to
| keep more farm animals. The crops of
| the farmer are largely the measurement
of the wealth that he is producing.
clarifying has always been one of the
leading industries of Maine. The far
mers the past year have manifested an
increased interest in this branch of our
agriculture. The cow test associations
that have been formed are now in sue
cessful operation in many dairy sections
of the State, informing the dairymen Of
the individual value of each COW. have
been a great stimulus to the industry.
, Several breeders organizations have also
been organized during the past year.
which is step in the direction of bet
ter dairy stock for Maine.
Farmers Institutes.
THE farmers Institutes has been an
important factor in the development Of
our agriculture 1t has furnished spec
ia amount of agricultural knowledge
and reached certain portion of the far
mers who get but little public instruc
ton save this. The interest in these in
sttutes is increasing. The average far
mer is more intelligent than in former
years and more ready to take advantage
of the instruction received. During the
past two or three years the meetings
havs<been more largely attended than
formerly. 1t has been the intention of
, the department to hold these institutes
! in every agricultural section of the
State, so that the farmers living in the
more remote sections should receive their
| part of the benefits to be derived from
| the appropriation. In the rural districts
| the population is scattered and the at
, tendance is small. but the people come
for the purpose of receiving instruction
| and justice demands that these sections
should receive their proportional number.
THE farmers are demanding the best
| agricultural speakers in the country, and
| it has been the policy of the State for d
long time to secure the best speakers
possible AS rule these institutes are
addressed only by tine most practical
successful, farmers, as well as by scien-
| tific agriculturists, men who from their
| personal experiences can impress the far
mers with the Importance of intelligent.
| progressive work.
| Agricultural Societies.
| "There has certainly been a marked
| Improvement in the fairs Of the State
, The educational features have been more
| pronounced, and the special attractions
J and midways have been less conspicuous.
| The returns show that a larger amount
| of agricultural products were exhibited
than usual, and presented in a more in
viting manner There were never before
! so many of the essential farm imple-
| ments on exhibition and in such promi-
nent places. at the fairs in different sec
tions of the State The stock in most
, cases was in fine condition and a large
amount was exhibited. Large numbers
| of thoroughbred animals were exhibited,
representing practically all the breeds in
| the State.
1.-The number of horses and colts eN-
hibted was 2,05S: number of neat cattle
| exhibited. 1884: number of sheep exhib-
tied Lab: number of swine exhibited
| 4s9 number of poultry (crops) exhibited
8, 466: amount of premiums and gratuities
! received, $i3.744.35: amount of trotting
purses. s30S7403 per cent. of premiums
and gratuities to total awards. SO.
Seed improvement.
lone of the wisest acts of the last
| legislature was the appropriation of
small sum which would be used to pro-
mote increased production of farm crops
| through the selection, growing and dis
semination of superior strains of seeds
| The work of seed Improvement by selec-
| ton and breeding is one that has been
| much neglected Three principal factors
determine largely the value of any Gull
| tivated crop. namely, yield. quality and
adaptation to climate and soil. Breeding
| for strains which will be superior in
these points is a matter of much i'm
portance Believing that cooperation in
| this work will be productive Of good re-
suits. it is the plan of the department in
| the near future to organize seed inn
provement associations and in every way
| possible encourage the selection and
| breeding of better seed. 1t is our purpose
| to organize an association which Will
| cover the entire State. and it is hoped
| that many of the farmers in every sec
| ton of the State will join in this move
ment. so that a State wide interest can
be awakened. In every section attention
will be given to some of the crops that
are especially adapted to that portion of
| the State, all sections receiving their
proportional part
At the Educational Department.
Superintendent Smith is sending. out