The Republican journal., 1912-12-26
Agriculture of Maine.
Interesting Lecture by Dean Merrill at the
University of Maine.

1ulSICSlul& LSStuIC ny ASou VASAAh a. sAS
University of Maine.
The Agriculture of Maine from an
Historical Standpoint was ably present.
ed to the students in the popular lecture
course at the library Wednesday after
noon, Dec. 18th. by DR.. Leon S. Mer-
rill, dean of the College of Agriculture.
The establishment of agriculture in
Maine, Dean Merrill stated, was nearly
co-existent with the settlement. Prog
ress has been promoted or hindered ac-
cording as the vision of the farmer mani
tested itself and since the farmer has
controlled and directed the advancement
of agriculture, the industry may be d.
vided according to the attitude of the
farmer toward his vocation. The farm
ers have been of three types, the pioneer,
the home-maker and the business farmer.
The first Of these was primarily a
pioneer, and farmer not so much from
choice as from necessity. He raised the
few simple crops needed for snstenance.
His methods were crude; his home was a
log cabin; his farm, few acres of land,
surrounding his cabin. As the lone settler
was joined by other settlers, settlements
were established which grew into towns
ard considerable portion of the popula-
ton became engaged in occupations dis
tinct from farming, creating Tor the first
time tangible markets for the farm
products.
This condition marks the transition of
the settler to the farmer The cheap and
fertile lands around the towns began to
attract a class Of people familiar with
experience, furnishing them with an OPP
portunity to establish farm home, and
this led to the second type of farmers.
With the home maker farmer comfort
able homes began to appear, radical
changes in farm practice and methods
were to be observed as new implements
came into use. The crops grown upon
the farm were those which could be used
upon the farm as rule.
Wheat, potatoes, corn, rye, barley and
beans were commonly raised. In Maine,
practically three of these, potatoes,
sweet corn and beans have survived and
are now cash products. The farm ami
m ais were principally the kinds to which
the food grown on the farm could be fec
to best advantage. Cattle, both beef
and dairy, sheep, swine, horses, bees
and poultry were kept. The beef type
of cattle disappeared as the industry
grew in the west. Sheep were raised to
a great extent, but now other animals
have been found more profitable. The
raising of swine is now increasing and sc
is the raising of poultry. Bees are now
disappearing.
The time has now arrived when farm.
ing must be treated as business.
Changes in the distribution of popula.
ton is the reason given by DR.. Merrill
According to the census of 1910 the pop
ulation of the State was 742, 81. The
urban population was 381, 443, or 50. pei
cent, and this was made up of 20 cities
and IS towns. The increase of the urban
population in the last ten years has been
IL. 80 per cent. and of the rural popula-
ton IL. Four hundred and seventy
towns in Maine are reckoned as rural
towns, however, so there is probably not
over Is per cent. of the population now
living on farms.
In regard to the development Of the
industry in the State DR.. Merrill told of
the rising values of land, of the output
of farm products and of the farm ami
mails.
The organization of agriculture was
taken up next by Dr. Merrill. The first
agricultural society was organized at Hal
lowell in 1887, and was called the Kenne-
bee Agricultural Society. Other organi-
cations include the MaineA agricultural So
ciety, Incorporated in 1918, the Winthrop
Agricultural Society, founded in 1918,
the Bangor Horticultural Society, or
ganized in 1S4S, the Maine Pathological
and Horticultural Society, formed in
1S47, the Maine State Agricultural So
cietv and the Maine State Grange, or
gained in 1874.
Dean Merrill then spoke of the many
newspapers and magazines devoted to
the interest of the farmer and agricul-
tural pursuits. They have been big
factor in the development of the indus
try.
Agricultural education soon came to
play an important part in the develop
ment also. The first college of agricul-
ture in the country was the Gardiner
Lyceum, established in 1921 and opened
in 1928, with Rev. Benjamin Hale as
president. The College of Agriculture
at Orono was established in 1868, the
Maine Fertilizer Control and Agriculture
al Station was established in 1855. The
work has been taken up by normal
schools, and there are now IA secondary
schools in the State giving courses in
agriculture.
DR.. Merrill concluded his lecture by
quoting from the report of Hon. S. L..
Goodale in 1856, who said: agriculture
must be pursued as business. We must
have application of scientific principles
to the practice of agriculture. The art
Of agriculture is as old as Adam, but as
such it never has yet and never can at
tain high degree of perfection until it
is pursued by the light which science af'
fords or can be made to ford"
THE BANGOR POULTRY SHOW.
University of Names Exhibit One of the
Features.
The fourth annual show of the Bangor
Poultry Association opened in City Hal
Dec 18th with nearly 900 birds shown by
farmers from all over Eastern Maine
1t was by far the largest show ever hele
by the association. There were also ex
hibits of dressed poultry and eggs, be.
sides large showing of foods, incubators