Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-25

mense assistance to this general COM
mittee.
In line with this problem of adult ed
ucation. and in harmony with testi-
mony offered at ell our hearings, the
committee would suggest that the pro-
blem Of adult education will never be
settled right until we plan and carry
out some systematic work in our public
schools regarding the agricultural OPP
portunities opened to citizens of this
state. Or, in other words, we must
catch them young If we wish to
change the attitude of the adults of
this State. At present, our young men
are largely given to understand that
all the worth while opportunities for
advance lie, along business and pro-
fessional lines, and as result, our
smaller communities are being rapidly
drained Of much OF their leaderships,
and the cities are being flooded with
a surplus of young and trained minds.
The old-time farming in early days
has been developed through necessity,
invention and education, into the sci
ence and practices of agriculture. But
the old-time rural school is here yet,
in the same old form, In many towns
OF the state. The new agriculture will
require more head, more brains ana
knowledge, and 1t is certainly the duty
of our state to provide a. program or
course of study that will include ele-
mentary instruction and laboratory
practice, in farm, crops. soils, milk
and its products. farm animals, spray
ing, drafting, poultry needs, asricul-
tural accounting, and the best methods
of doing all forms of farm WORK, Our
program must also include definite
work in adult education, and accord
ing to the evidence thus far submitted,
the farm demonstration and extension
work of the University of Maine seems
to be the most satisfactory solution of
the demands along this line. The COM
mittee, therefore, as a second recon-
mendation. would urge that the differ
ent Boards of Trade in the State, take
pains TO become fully acquainted with
these activities, and to furnish hearty
support to the employed officers of the
State Board of Agriculture and the
University of Maine.
Extensive farming has always been ac-
companied. thus faf. in Maine, by low
investment of capital per acre. To in
crease agricultural production In our
or later, more funds must be available
for use. 1t seems to be the concensus of
opinion that increased fertility. better
tillage, the growing of more production
and disease resistent crops, the control
ing of insects and fungus, all are needed
for the betterment of Maine agriculture,
but none of these things can come to
pass without greater credit facilities and
better understanding between farmers
and the bankers of the State. The fact
that farmers are heavy depositors is no
argument against the need of a change.
The farmers who have deposits on inter-
est are not as a class, the men who need
credit, or the men who are actively en-
gagged promoting agricultural produc-
ton. The men who need credit are the
young and middle-aged men, who have
e future before them. These men need
some form of working capital to operate
their farm Therefore, your committee
would urge that the Boards of Trade of
the state take up and endorse, before the
Legislature, some bill similar to the
Fletcher bill now pending at Wash
ington. z.z.~z szE-.-4.z.tls.}5= = -
A large part of. the business of the
farm products from the farmer to the
consumer. In many communities the
transfer is a very simple one. the farmer
being able to market his own products
by his own teams; but in most cases the
problem is fast becoming more complex,
and the street and steam railroads of
Maine are vital factors in this problem.
The committee has, through the cour-
tesy of Mr. John r. Graham. of Bangor
and the work of two of its own members.
Messrs. Ivers and Goudy, been able to
make an extended study of some sue
cessful solutions of this marketing pro-
blem in Massachusetts. The possibilities
along this line will be given in greater
detail later; but suffice it to say that the
committee has already evidence enough
on hand to make IL clearly evident that
the farmers and the Boards of Trade are
neither of them beginning to make full
use of the opportunities for mutual help
that lie dormant in the transportation
facilities of this State.
The investigators of the committee
have revealed the fact that, in spite of
the splendid work that has been accom-
plished by the University of Maine and
the Department of Agriculture, there is
still a most lamentable lack of knowl-
edge regarding the soils of Maine and
economic factors influencing profitable
production. This is the age of scientific
investigation. The doctor diagnoses the
case, the miner digs with a diamond drill
many test holes before investing, the
railroad conducts a preliminary recog-
nizance before building. the architect
draws his plan. In like manner. the
committee believes it wise for the bust
ness and agricultural interests of State
to aid in scientific study of Names re-
sources.
Therefore, as first step III this iine
we would recommend that the State
Board of Trade and local boards of
trade, both endorse and promote econo-
mic survey of Maine, as outlined by DR..
Alley and his associates at the University
of Maine, and further move that our
Senators and Congressman at Washing
ton be requested to endeavor to secure
for Maine, some of the soil surveys of
the Department of Agriculture that have
proven so profitable to other states.
With these few concrete recommended