Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-21

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benefit not only to that county but to
| the whole State of Maine.
| MIR. SMITH of Pressure isle: i do
not intend to detain. the House very.
long. l simply want tes say that the
proposition is to make an appropria-
ton of $4,000 to be used for the pur-
| pose of purchasing land in Aroostook
county and an experimental farm made
out of it; not for the benefit of
Aroostook county alone, but as the
gentleman from Caribou said, for the
benefit of the whole State.
1t is a well known fact that great
| wealth has been added to the State
of Maine the last few years by the
cultivation of the potato, and that
great potato growing section was
| where this business really had it's
birth. Not only have they built up a
| large and thriving business in Aroos-
took; but other sections of the State
| have commenced their potato industry.
| notice in my old county of Penob-
scot they are raising great many
| potatoes. today. Kennebec county L
am informed, has engaged in the oo-
tato business to quite an extent; so
| has Piscataquis county, and so. has
Somerset county. Now the PROPOSE
| ton is that this farm shall be estab-
| lished somewhere in Aroostook as
this committee may select and there
shall be special work done along the
lines indicated by the gentleman from
| Caribou-experiment to determine
what is the best variety of potato, ana
how the yield per acre can be increas-
ed, and matters of that kind; and
| 1t is not to be established for the pur-
| pose Of profit to Aroostook county. or
| to any individual in Aroostook coun-
| ty. but ii is to be established for that
| purpose, as stated by the gentlman
| from Caribou, to see what improve
| ment can be made in the raising and
| growing of potatoes, just as improve
| ment Is made in the raising and grow
| ing of fruits Now there is a commit
| tee named here in the bill to have the
| selection of that farm il the bill
| passes; it is unnecessary to name the
/ gentlemen. Among them is the name
| of William A. Martin of Hounon. WHO
| is one of the trustees of the Univer-
| sity of Maine, and man whom many
| of you know and who Is deeply in
terested in the farming interestes of
| the county of Aroostook as we'll as
| the business interests. The Act fur
| Their provides that THE Maine Agri-
| ucltural Experiment Station shall
have the general supervision. manage
| ment and control of such farm, and of
| all experiments and Investigations
| conducted thereon, and may, if it sees
| fit, or deems best, authorize any agent
| or agents of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture to conduct expert
| ments upon such farm, upon such
| terms as it deems best"
| I have here copy of letter which
| was written TO Mr.. Hayford of Pressure
Isle. December 8, 1872 and it comes
| from the Horticultural Bureau at
| Washington. In this letter it is
| stated: ~ q
| I am informed by Mr.. w A Martin
of Houlton that you are taking an ac-
| tive interest in the securing of a farm
on which to carry on potato investiga-
| tions in your country l also learn from
/ Mr.. Martin that the Maine Experiment
Station is also actively interested in this
proposition.
| do not know whether you are in pos
| session of information regarding corre-
spondence betweeen this otnee and Mr..
| Martin relative to the needs of the office
| for the satisfactory continuation of the
4
Maine We feel that the potato interests
| of Maine. and particularly those OF
| Aroostook county, are sufficiently largo
to demand on the part of the state some
| expenditure of money whereby facilities
| such as land and buildings could be pro-
vided for the use of the department. The
department is planning to put between
$500 and $1,000 into the work annually
aud Would opfv Seps,o fair on fba ,,a1-
| of the potato growers of Maine or the
| State itself to contribute the land and
buildings. together with such equipment
| as might be necessary
1t is proposed to increase the work
over that carried on last year and in ad-
dition to bring in another office for the
study of potato diseases. This office. OF
which Mr.. w. A. orion is the head. pro-
poses to place a man in the field during
| the growing season. This man will he
expected to devote his whole time to the>
study of potato diseases. In all proba-
| bility he will be furnished with an as
sstant Our Office also expects To place
i a man in charge of the work who will de-
| vote his whole time to it. Your can,
/ therefore, see that with two meni;in the
| field throughout the season. together
| with their assistants, something ought
| to be accomplished in the furthenH 4kN
4 the potato interests of the Statea s.
4 am simply mentioning thesS <EM
| to you so that you will have soffa noe
/ ton as to what we expect TO d0sgnd
| he Wi n,p eEt ant awestesard the work. ip
4 your SEE ten i ~ III ~ T4MMFk @
I'VE wifi bevers gIad1o hear sfrbmfySu
| at any time concerning the progress
1 of plans and to advise with you
/ if desired regarding the selection of
a site, or anything else that may arise
| relative to the formation of plans for
| the continuance of the work. 8
| Very truly yours gleHs
| (Signed) VIM. STUART,
| Horticulturist.g
| / understand that if this farm is es-
| tablished the United States govern
ment, through its agent, will do more
or less work which has special refer
| ence to the growing and raising of
| potatoes.
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