Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-16
Farm Conference
At State University.

Eighteen years ago when the Direct
or of the Maine Agrieultuf2- Expert
ment Station came back to his native
state to assume his present position,
there was a State Board Of Agricul-
ture The Board consisted of one mem
ber from each of the counties in the
State and included as ex-officio MEM
bers the President of the Maine State
College and the Director of the Maine
Agricultural Experiment Station in his
capacity as professor of agriculture.
The law establishing the Board of Ag-
riculture provided for an annual meet
ing to be held the second week in jan
uary in Augusta. At this four days
meeting a paid secretary was elected,
and the work for the year was planned.
Also the members reported upon the
agricultural conditions and needs in
their respective counties and the ag-
ricultural outlook CT the State was dis
cussed in large way.
The writer found these meetings to
be exceedingly profitable. for it gave
him a knowledge of the agricultural
wants of the people in the various sec
tions of the State which ,he could OBJ
BILE in planning the work of the Expert
ment Station to take into account the
needs of the agriculture of the differ
ent parts of the State. With the pass
ing of this Board there has been no
way in which this particular function
of the State Board of Agriculture has
been provided for
About three years. ago the statewide
agricultural organizations in Maine
were federated into an organization
known as the Maine Federation of Ag-
ricultural Associations. The prime OBJ
ject of the Federation is 10 unity and
harmonize the agricultural work in the
State. Much along this line has al
ready been accomplished
At the last meeting of the Federation
at Farmers Week at the University or
Maine the executive committee, De
cause of q paper presented blythe writ
er, were instructed to look toward the
possibility of holding a conference with
delegates from each county somewhat
along the line of the old Board OF AZ
riculture. This was arranged and a
meeting was held December 30 and 81
1913. at the University of Maine, MADE
up of a delegate from each OF the
several counties in the State, the Gem
missioner of Agriculture. the Master
of the State Grange, the Dean OF the
College of Agriculture, and the Director
of the Experiment Station. Three ses-
siors of about three hours each were
held. Each member made report OF
the AGRICULTURAL conditions as they are
bA
accomplished, the kinds of farmlng
that could be proftably carried out ana
the particular needs for promoting ast
riculture within the county. In addltioii
to this some problems OF state-Wlo
Importance were discussed. The mem
hers brought large amount OF IN
formation which will be highly useiui
TO the Dean of the College of Agricui
tllre and TO the Director of the Maine
Agricultural Experiment Statloh III
planning work. Because Oh TINS eA
change of ideas and the broader view
obtained of the agriculture OF the
State of Maine, it's needs ana posslpiil-
ties. the members have carried pack 10
their respective counties many sugges
tions that will doubtless prove heiplui
and beneficial Quite full stencgraphlc
notes were taken and the more import
ant points will be printed from time
to time as the opportunity arises in the
series published by the College OF Ag-
r;cult,re of the University of Maine
under the title Timely Helps for the
Farmer
The inheritance of the meeting I'M
pressed itself upon all preseii, 'hu so
much so that they took tornai ae''oi,
requesting the Federation TO take sucN
steps as would insure the hoiolis "a