Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-10-22

'o"u for winter cattle-feediug has proven
pFaetical and desirable, and siios for storage
purposes are being constructed in every
ighborhood
fhe Beds are smoother, better drained
deeper worked and better titled than ever be-
sore' The farm buildings are better and more
convenient, the farmer lives in better house.
y ostter led, better clothed and better read
than ne was fifty years ago, and is far more
independent in his thinking and action.
th's work OF the evolution OF the farmer and
his business Is in great measure the result
o. the wisdom Of the State in providing for
hih' through the board of agriculture. special
instruction In the various lines of his voca-
| tion.
THE NEW BOARD.
The appointment OF Hon. John A. Rob-
erts, OF Norway, to the position OF COM
missioner OF agriculture last January, was
a happy solution OF an unfortunate tangie
In this department, and no better selec-
ton could have been made. This gentle
| man was born in Gardiner and is now In
the prime OF life and usefulness. He is a
graduate OF Bowdoin college, and is also
thoroughly trained in agriculture. Two
years ago he was made State sealer OF
weights and measures, and the Office re-
mains in his department. He Is an able
man and well qualified for the office.
One of the first official acts OF Commits
sioner Roberts was to appoint Major E. e.
Philbrook, OF Portland, to take charge of
the gypsy and brown-tail moth campaign.
This gentleman was born in Haverhill,
Mass, and moved to Portland while very
young. He was educated in the public
schools OF Portland and Exeter, and
Hampton academy. He was secretary OF
the Maine commission to the worlds fair
at st. louis In 1904, and first became in
terested in the gypsy moth work in Japan
while in the service of the u. s. Under
Commissioner Gilman, Major Phiibrook
held this same position for six years, hav-
ing created the work in the state in the
year 1907.
Since appointment, careful investiga-
tion OF the conditions existing has been
made, and II has been found that 147 towns
and ten counties are infested with the
gypsy moth. The conditions are indeed
| serious and will require much work and a
| large outlay OF money to handle the in
| sect.
Every branch OF the agricultural depart
ment is now organized, and the most
thorough work Is being done. In the
chair OF horticulture Is Albert K. Gardner,
son OF Obadiah Gardner, and .chip OF
| the old block. He was born In Rockland
in iSss and trained in the public schools
OF that city and Orono. In the latter place
he specialized in horticulture, and then
became assistant Rgricult1rist in the
Sacramento Valley Irrigation Co., of Cali
fornia. Later he went to Oregon as as
sistant horticulturist for the Waldo Hill
| Orchard Co., where he remained until 1911,
when he wss called home to become the
State horticultural OF Maine. This was
In May, 1911, and since then he has been
| doing very effective work in that depart
ment. He is second vice-president OF
the Maine State Pathological society. and
10 now considered one OF the best author
tiles -ea this subject that We have in
/ Maine.
| For an assistant, Mr.. Gardner has Her
man r. Sweetsir, OF Cumberland Centre.
Born in that place in 1887, he was edu-
Gated in the town schools and the Greedy
institute in Gray. He then entered the
University OF Maine, and graduated in the
class OF 1910, having completed the regular
! four years course in agriculture. The
following two years were spent in prac-
/ tical work on the farm at Cumberland
/ Center, and in March, 1912, ne went &c
/ Augusta to take up the duties of assistant
1 horticuiturist In the State department
! He has been connected as an officer with
| the Maine Association OF Agricultural Stu
dents for two years, and at the present
( time is president OF that organization
I which has its headquarters at the uni
versity.
THE DAIRY DEPARTMENT.
! One OF the most important divisions il
the agricultural department is the dairy
/ divisions, where an old friend, Frank s
| Adams, is chief, with {. II. Leland as al
| assistant. Both Mr.. Adams and his as
sistant believe the greatest need OF the
farmer in Maine to-day is better farm
I manage neut, peter DuSiuess iustAOur
better system OF figuring profit and loss
| that he may discard the COW or the cror
which will not pay profit on the work
and investment.
In trying to help the farmer they will
give much attention to organizing COW
testing associations. They advise CO.
| operative buying and cooperative selling
They advise accurate farm accounts, ane
will give what assistance they can Il
\ those who are interested and will try Il
follow some system of farm accounting
They will urge the growing of seec
worthy of Recommendation to the farmers
OF the State. To those who will make ar
honest attempt to improve their seeds th'
division will give active assistance. They
will make inspections and attempt to ad
wise when help is needed. If seed ID
grown OF such quality that guarantee
can be given of purity and Determination
| the Maine Seed Improvement association