Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-11
STATE HOUSE
Must Change Present Law
To Get Better Seeds !
Says Asst Dairy Inspector Le-
: land in His Annual Report. !.
Fish and Game Coni'rs Mees-..Agri.
cultural Meetings at 0rono.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council viii Be Held at 10 A. M.
Wednesday, March rs.

Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council Will Be Held at 10 A. M.
Wednesday, March rs.
4 believe that the seed laws of our
State are Inadequate and that a care4
full and comprehensive study of them
should be made during the coming
year to the end that such revision of
our present law, or such additions as
would improve the quality of seeds
grown outside the State and sold With
in or borders and would foster the
production of high class seeds in our
own State be recommended for the
consideration of the next Legislature,
says G.. r. Leland of Minot, assistant
dairy instructor, in charge of the seed
Improvement work, in his annual re-
port which was made public Tuesday.
Especially do I urge consideration of
the needs of the Maine State Improve
ment Association. The possibilities of
good service among the farmers of the
State by this association are almost
unlimited, and we urge that the voters
of the State see to it that substantial
assistance and financial recognition be
given them in their efforts to improve
the quality and increase the acreage of
the crops grown in Maine.
The report of Mr.. Leland further
says:
MIR. Jones, who was with the de-
paltment during the first three months
of the year. had already formulated
some plans for seed Improvement work
and had issued letters outlining the
seasons plans to many of the seed
growers of the State. To Mr.. Jones. al
so should be credited the excellent
bulletin upon Good Seeds which was
was published. by the department in
March.
As the official under Mr.. Adams,
who has had charge OF the seed inter-
ests, / have carried out as fully as pos
sibla the plans outlined at the begin
ming of the year Sy Mr.. Jones. About
80 men in different sections of the
State entered their names as intending
seed growers during the past year.
These men We're not confined to men,
bers of the seed association. Mr.. Adj
ans, the instructor. and myself have
held ourselves ready tg assist all who
have asked for help in improving
their crops and we believe some good
has come from our efforts. We believe
the slogan Better Seeds for Maine,' is
producing results and that the conn
ing year will better prove that the
time we have spent in educational
campaigns and in field inspections OF
growing crops has not been wasted.
1--WE have visited and inspected the
crops upon more than 50 farms, and
many of these we have visited twice
and a few three times, Upon these I'M
spcction trips we have tried to carry
to the grower some point which would
help him to produce crop more satis-
factory than he would otherwise Sc
cure.
Il have spoken at many meetings on
subjects allied to good crops; at Grange
meetings, dairying association meet
ings, field meetings and Institutes. The
subject of improved seed has held the
close attention of the audiences, show
ing that the need of a better grade OF
seed fer planting is recognized by
the thinking portion of our farmers.
lowing to removal from the State of
w. L. Slate, secretary of the Maine
Improvement Association, | was APP
pointed by the executive committee In
September to fill out Prof. States un-
expired term of office The work OF
secretary of this association is very
Important and much of my time since
September has been taken up by the
necessary duties of the office.
Il should consider this report in
complete without mention of the an-
nual meeting of the Maine Seed I'M
provement Association held at Lewis
ton in connection with the Maine
Dairvmen's Association. In the opin>
ion of many who have followed the
work of the association this is by far
the most important and successful
meeting ever held by the association.
The exhibit was of excellent quality
and large in size, Notwithstanding the
severity and difficulties of the season.
The exhibitors were one and all en-
thusiastic They proved to the satisfacr
ton of all who saw the exhibit at
Lewiston that it is possible by wise
and careful selection of seeds, aided
by thorough and complete cultivation
to secure, in any year, crop when
will yield satisfactory financial re-
turns.
an this report of work done should
also be included mention of Dtns-
more Kendall corn contest. In this cen
test Thomas Dinsmore of China, Me,
and w. e. Kendall of Bowdcinham
offered prizes, aggregating$150 to the
farmers in Maine who should produce
the largest amount of shelled corn per
acre. over 100 bushels.
Twenty-four contestants entered, but
owing to the difficulties of the season
large number of these withdrew be-
fore the completion of the competition.
1t is with pleasure that we record the
yield of over 100 bushels of sheiied
corn from two measured acres. Miss
n. G. Burieigh of Vassalboro and
George c. Croker of Manchester Sc
cured respectively 1871 bushels and
1915 bushels from zone measured acre.
Il hope the prizes may again be Of
fered this year as we believe such con-
tests are of value. not only for the
pecuniary aid received by the winner,
hut in an. educational sense, They
arouse competition and stimulate in
terest ia better methods of care and
cultivation. They are demonstration
that the limit of yield is very much
higher than it is customary for us to
believe. ~
II also would recommend the con-