The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-02-16

in my present position over there at
Orono.'
The professor strikes an intervale
farm, with deep. fine soil, the home
of the corn plant. | want him to see
the proprietor and say, My fellow
co-worker, | have a scheme big with
promise for you. You are one of the
most fortunate farmers | have ever
met | notice that you possess a
splendid intervale, just the ideal
home for sweet corn. The factory
for canning is but a little way. |
have gained considerable information
about dairying and corn raising over
there at the university. some of it at
your expense. | want you to reap
some benefit from what you have paid
and are still to pay for my support
1t is just that you should have it. You
have splendid grazing land up there
on those side hills. Now listen to
me- Stop this whiting about from
sheep to horses and from horses to
COWS and then from COWS to pota-
toes, in order to catch a gltterine
price this year and fails you next
Start in now with cows and SWEEP
outlook. and | camp right on the field
with you, giving you all the benefit
of what | have learned and will make
things hum, provided you like the
business and will get into line. You
haven't the right kind OF soil for or
charding and in conducting the dairy
interests you won't be in possession
of much time to lose in potato
craze" or any other craze that all too
often makes an attack on farmers.
If the farmer is sensible he'll see the
point and say that light is at last
breaking in and that the Orono uni
versity will amount to something at
ter all. 1t is taking a new departure
and getting off from the theoretical
onto the practical side of affairs. Wish
| could have mad all this happen be
fore.
Then there are farms composed
of light, warm soil, favOrably located
near village markets, just the ideal
place for a combination of truck and
poultry farming. Don't need a pro
lessor to give the proprietor OF such
farm a lecture on orcharding OF
sheep raising or dairying. It's time
wasted, but he will fulfill his mission
when he gets the confidence OF that
individual farmer and gives him wise
suggestions and practical help right
on the farm.
| claim that instead of farmers go
ing to public halls and listening to
speakers who deal too much with the
theoretical instead of the practical
much of which is difficult for the av
erage farmer to retain or put in
practice, the intelligent, practical pro
lessor should come to the farmer
and learn his circumstances, con
ditions. capabilities, earnest desires
and meet out to him that which
would be the most helpful.
If that university at Orono or the
commissioner OF agriculture and at
tendant aids, all of which are con
tinually calling on and receiving hard
earned money right from the pockets
of the taxpayers, large majority OF
whom are farmers, wish TO accom-
plish the best possible, and helr
where it is the most needed, let il
Ue directed into different channel
rom tn. OF the past. Let the Object
be to lit the burdens from those
who are str; ngling with a mortgag
and are under the shadows of ad-
verse circumstances. Try to pave
the way for such to better their con
ditions. Extravaganza and increased
taxation from State to towns are
bearing heavily on too many OF our
farms, hence the restlessness, the
longing look to get away from the
firm hence the abandoned ones The
farmre who inherited his farm, or
by some fortunate circumstances has
capital outside and Is not handicapped
for want of means, does not need
help and instruction half 80 much as