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


commissioners Of agriculture may come
and 20 With the passing of each political
administration, but the State department
., Agriculture, like the brook described
he Tennyscn, goes on forever. Not only
that. but II is continually going on to
,igher and better work. Each year sees
some new development and progressive
idea to advance the interests of the filters
~ the soil, and in the march of evolution,
commissioners are but an incident.
II IL well, however, that the men who
hold this position should not only be in
touch with the spirit OF the tunes, but
also in sympathy with that spirit, and
thenthe procession can move on without
friction or loss Of power. Such man we
have in Commissioner John A. Roberts, OF
Norway. Although he has held the posi-
ton but a short time be has already shown
such a breadth OF mind and conception
Of the march of progress that the in
fneneo OF this department is being felt in
ait sections of the State.
The present department over which Mr..
Roberts presides is but the outgrowth OF
the board OF agriculture that was
organized in 1855. From the founda-
been men Of high standing and well
ysrsed in all the problems OF ag-
rtcuiture. True, the officials Of half CEN
fury ago did not have the knowledge that
they have to- day, but II was their devotion
to daty and enthusiasm that made pos
siblc the present advanced position oc-
cupied By the farmers OF Maine.
The rrst work OF the old board of
agriculture was in advancing the interests
Of the oid-time cattle shows, and It is
doubtful IL any effort on their part was
ever productive of better and more far
reaching results. These country societies
were soon banded together Ia mutual
work, and in 1880 the legislature estab-
lished the board OF agriculture on a legal
basis The board was originally made up
Of one member from each society, but the
law OF 1850 reduced this number to one
from each county.
In 1870 another Law was enacted which
gave the governor authority to appoint
Eve members at large, and also giving the
right OF the State agricultural society 10
have a representative on the board. Later
the Pathological society, Maine Poultry
mems association and the State Jersey
cattle club were each given a representa-
tive on the board. The agricultural
college came later, and then the winter
session OF the board was held at some
point where the students OF that institu-
ton could attend.
In 1850 came an act OF the legislature re-
ducing the membership of the board to
one representative from each county and
two from the State college. 1t alsoestab b.
lished the system OF farmers institute
meetings, and from that time these we're
held In every county. These were not q
great Successes the grange was no, at that
time the powerful aid that 1t is day, and
the word ''inatituie" did not appeal TO the
average farmer.
IN THE OLD DAYS.
fu those days flaming was conducted in
primitive manner, as the work was all
done By hand, while the droppings from
the cattle we're thrown outside the barn
where sun and rain could reduce and
partially destroy their value. In the agri-
cultural report, giving the history OF
those times, we find the following:
In these times the barns were cold and the
manure ffozs almost az hard in the tis-ups
behind aud under the cattle "a IL did in tins
yards outside No grain was fed except &c
the tattsning oxen. The cows gave no milk
during the winter. aud the young stock went
out from the dark refriserators TO pasture, In
spring. lighter than When they were put in
TIE barns In the fall. Those were some Of the
conditions that our predecessors In the work
OF agricultural enlightenment had TO deal
with.
Deep pIowing had been prscsieed, and 'pui
her down to the beam was the wasehword
aud the accepted key TO successful crop grow
ing. Deep late cultivation of the growing
corn so as 20 check too great a development
% stalk and turn the energies Of the plant &c
the production OF grain was theory looked
upon with much favor, aud we ourselves
have followed the heavy cast-iron toothed
eultiyator many a day when the plants would
sway Erct1 bluc 70 As tSEc NA NANAA
roots OF support In passing.
The cattle were of the native stock or with
an infusion Of the blood OF some Of the Eng
iish breeds. The growing Of working oxen
aud sheep furnished the chief revenue oil
stock hnsbandry.
While IL would be unreasonable TO claim
credit TO the board of agriculture for all thS
advance during this period of time. yet the
fact remains that IL has been chief factor ii
bringing into practice the enlightened sys'
TENS of agriculture that we are now pracsie'
ing. The agricultural press has been a pow
erful educator OF our workers, and its inhu'
ence can hardly be measured, but the yeasly
reports of the board of agriculture have beer
placed 10 the hands Of almost every farmer
and being In bound volumes they have beer
preserved and have become part OF his
working library.
The analytical subfct-index hrst printed
in report for 1897, and continued in those foi
1888, 1859 and 1900, places the matters treated
Ia all of the reports before the reader at
glance, making . reference easy and quick