The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-07-06
GREAT PROSPERITY SHINES ON THE
FARMS OF MAINE
Results in the Last Ten Years Greater Than in
the Twenty Years Preceding

ducts were of a superior quallty Inc
exhibition of fruit was also far in ad-
vance of previous years. The care
that was taken in selecting only the
best-as the fruit shown scored much
higher than in former years-shows
that the apple growers OF the state
are much interested in these exhibit
tons. The vegetables and grain ex-
hibited at some of the fairs were
great credit to the State. In fact all
of the products of the farm and gar
den were far superior to those ex-
hibited in former years. In the stock
department Improvement was also
noted. More full-blooded registered
stock was exhibited this year than
usual.
I'VE believe that the fair managers
are generally trying to make their
exhibitions more educational as we'll
as attractive Fair days are holidays
to the majority and they must have
amusement. but let it be along educa-
tional lines. The officers of the fairs
are reminded by this department ey-
cry year of the statute that governs
the societies, in order for them to re-
ceive any of the State aid, and gener-
ally they are diligent in seeing that
this statute is enforced. 1t is only
occasionally that a violation occurs.
SEED IMPROVEMENT WORK.
The report has the following to say
of seed Improvement work: "Realiz-
ing the importance of some systematic
plan for improving the farm crops of
Maine, the Legislature of 1909 made a
small appropriation for work in this
line under the supervision of the de-
partment of agriculture. AS a result
the Maine Seed Improvement Asso-
citation was organized Jan. 25, 1910,
at a meeting attended by large num-
Der of enthusiastic farmers coming
from nearly every section of the
State. The work thus started is one
of the most important lines of work
that the State has ever undertaken to
develop agriculture. The interest in
it has been and is steadily increasing.
At the present time the association
has a membership of nearly 200 ac-
tive, earnest, practical farmers.
The results accomplished in other
agricultural States in the line of seed
Improvement have been very marked.
Fiye-year tests with corn made by
about coo members of the Wisconsin
Agricultural Experiment Association
showed an average yield of 59.1 bush
els per acre. while the average yield
of the State was 1865. Experiments
in Indiana have shown that carefully
selected seed corn of type suited to
the soil and climate conditions, where
it is to be used will produce a much
larger yield per acre than that which
is commonly used without selection.
Also, the farmers cooperative dem
onstration work in the South gives a
good illustration of the value of seed
Improvement work In North Caro-
lima last year the average yield of
corn on the demonstration farms was
40 bushels, while the general average
for the State was 1853 bushels. The
work in seed selection cannot be
credited with all this gain, but it GER
tainly played an important part"
DIVISION REPORTS.
Detailed reports of the different
divisions of the department of agri-
culture are given in the report, to-
gether with institute papers, detailed
reports of the proceedings of the
State Dairy Conference and 18th an
nual meeting of the Maine Dairymen' 5
Association which was held at Angus
ia, Dec. 6, 7. 8 and and the annual
meeting of the Maine Seed Improve
ment Association, held at Augusta,
Dec. 9, 10.
The report of the cattle commits
sioners, which is also contained in the
report of the commissioner of agri-
culture, states that there have been
5O12O cattle tested during the two
years. costing the State for every eX-
pense pertaining to the business,
$145.309.27. After deducting the
$2687.6G paid to the State treasurer
for the sale of the hides, the cattle
tested cost the State 1884 each, upon
an average. including all expenses.
OF this 1884 for each animal tested
the owner received $2.09.
ANALYSIS OF FAIR REWARDS.
In connection with the statistics of
agricultural societies given in the re-
port of the commissioner of agricul-
ture the following analysis of awards
is of much interest: Amount of pre-
NUNS awarded trotting bred stall
lions, $663.75; amount of premiums
awarded trotting bred brood mares,
S293; amount of premiums awarded
gentlestock stations, $507; amount
of premiums awarded draft stock
brood mares, $30375; amount of pre-
miums awarded family horses, $209.-
Is; amount of premiums awarded
gentlemen's drivers, $415.75; amount
of premiums awarded matched car
rages horses. $19075; amount of pre-
miums awarded colts STAG 80;
amount of premiums awarded horses
for draft, $l643.65.
Amount of premiums awarded thor
oughbred bulls and calves, $237725;
amount of premiums awarded thor
oughbred cows, heifers and heifer
calves, $1474.54; amount of premiums
awarded grade cows, heifers and heif-
err calves $1S1350; amount of pre-
miums awarded herds, $1546.50;
premiums awarded working oxen and
steers, $S05.30; amount of premiums
awarded trained steers, $l95.75
amount of premiums awarded beef
cattle, S704S5; amount of premiums
awarded town teams, $l3l1.5 so amount
of premiums awarded oxen and steers
for draft. $l999.05.
Amount of premiums awarded
sheep, $2399; amount OF premiums
awarded swine. $60S65 amount of
premiums awarded poultry, $S610.15;
premiums awarded grain and root
crops, $2l65.70; amount of premiums
awarded fruit and flowers, $2844.49;
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