Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-07-05

Inc college OF Agriculture 10 not limiting
i.s efforts, however, TO the trimming 81 stu
dents alone. 1t realizes the great field Of
opportunity open to it in serving the
farmers of Maine. In order that this SER
vice might be rendered in the most efisc-
tive manner an extension department was
established several years ago. It is the
function Of this department to direct tho
external or extension teaching Of the col
lese.
No other feature OF agricultural college
work has developed 80 rapidly Is this dur
ng recent years. Six years ago only two
colleges were engaged In extension work,
while to-day there are well organized ex-
tension departments in thirty-nve OF the
agricultural colleges Of the country.
During 1910 more than four hundred
thousand dollars was appropriated BY the
different states for this work alone, re-
quiring the continuous employment OF
something over Q hundred men. The
amount Of money annually appropriated
by different states varies from one to fifty
thousand dollars and the number OF men
employed from one to twenty.
While the Maine college OF agriculture
has necessarily, on account OF lack Of
funds, been limited in its extension work,
it Is assisting each year steadily increas-
ing number Of Maine farmers. 1t may be
interesting to enumerate some Of the ways
in which the college is prepared to help
the farmers Of our State.
Lecture courses and demonstrations
given before oranges, farmers clubs,
agricultural societies in different sections
OF Maine, and participated in by all mem
bers Of the agricultural faculty enabled
the college to reach 1900 people during
1910. Several hundred farmers and far
mers' wives are annually enrolled as
students in the correspondence courses
covering every line Of farming. Co-opera-
tive demonstrations in the growing OF
corn, oats, and alfalfa are being carried on
the present year with more than two hum
dred people.
Advice by mail is given to thousands Of
Maine farmers each year, and farmers
week attended by four or five hundred
people is held annually at Orono.
MA6AEIlNd FARM fsxOOOCl5s
The profitable marketing of farm pro-
ducts has thus far received but very little
consideration upon the part Of any one.
1t is deserving, however, OF careful in
vestigation for the economic distribution
Of food products bears not only an i'm
portant relation to profitable farming but
also to the cost Of living.
In the opinion Of the writer the whole
matter Of the investigation Of markets,
their needs and requirements, as well as
the best methods to be pursued in the dis
tribution of farm products is not subject
with which the college is best fitted to
cope. 1t could better be referred or dele
gated to department Of the State. The
special function OF the college Is to carry
on educational work both at the college
and among the people and this it is es-
pecialIy fitted to do.
The fact remains, however, that the
question OF marketing facilities and eco
nomic distribution is an exceptionally i'm
portant one and deserves an early solu-
ton.
Statistics given by B. F. Yoakum, chair
man OF the executive committee OF the
Frisco and Allied railroad lines, in an ar
ticle recently published, are startling in
their merciless analysis OF wasteful
methods Of food distribution. As they are
strictly to the point we include them in
this article.
Mr.. Yoakum states that q careful inyes-
tigation shows that during the past year
the farmers received and the consumers OF
New York city paid for the following ar
ticles Of food approximately the amounts
shown below: