Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-08
PUTNAM
Continued from Page Two)

adapted to community, ana can
eliminate the improbable kinds
These records were taken of farms in
the vicinity of Putnam. When they
are returned, they will be thoroughly
discussed with the farmers from
whom they were taken.
Thirteen farm records have been
returned in an area already surveyed.
Following Agents Suggestions.
Four farmers are seeding down,
following the suggestions of the agent.
The largest area is in Brooklyn,
where all the available land on
small farm has been seeded. About
thirteen acres have been seeded here.
The grass has started finely and is
going into the winter in excellent
condition. This place had been neg
leCted and a plan was followed
which was calculated to build up the
soil an get it into grass as soon as
possible.
Another ten-acre tract has been
seeded in POmfret. and two smaller
plots have been sown according to the
agents suggestions in Putnam
Alfalfa Demonstration Plot.
One farmer has put in a demon
stTation plot of alfalfa, which. al
though it was little uneven when it
came up, has made an excellent
growth and is going into the winter
in good shape.
one farmers institute was held.
dairying. boys and girls clubs, and
county agent work were discussed.
Those who attended expressed them
selves as heartily in favor of having
a series of such mcCtainES through
the winter, and a committee WAC APP
pointed to arrange for the next meet
ing
Dairy ImprOvement-One herd i'm
provement Association has been form
ed. Karl T. Musser. extension agent
| in dairying from StOrrs, spoke in the
county some time in February on the
subject of "COw-test Associations"
At that meeting six farmers signed
an agreement TO cooperate in the hiT-
ing of a man to keep the records of
their herds. / was asked to take up
the work and to get enough men in
terested to make up the ideal number
for such an association, or twenty
six in all. This allows the man to
visit each farm in the association one
day each working day in the month.
Fortunately | could have the services
of Hugh Fergus Of the L. s. De-
partment of Agriculture at the time.
Together we succeeded in interesting
the required number.
The members of the Herd Improve
ment Association, cooperating with
the Windham County Farmers Assoc
November 27th.
Outside the members of this assocf-
alton, six farmers are keeping records.
They are weighing their milk at each
milking. Record sheets are prodvided
them by the State college, or by the
Windham County Farmers AssOcia-
ton. These sheets can be sent to the
college, where they are tOtalled and
returned with a fresh sheet for the
next month.
Orchard ImproVement.-ThiS was
one of the first projects undertaken,
and considerable work was done in
the short time between my coming
and the opening Of spring
Five demonstrations were given of
orchard pruning Most of these were
in old orchards and designed to show
methods used in renovation work.
Most of the owners of these orchards
! finished pruning their orchards. fol-
lowing the methods outlined at the
demonstrations. One peach grower
went over his entire orchard of about
| 500 peach trees a second time, be-
cause the agent found a little fault
with the way he had done il the first
time.
Three spraying demonstrations We're
given.
Three farmers have sown clover
crops in their orchards. which were
! usggested by the county agent. These
have all made good growth, and Will
furnish considerable amount of ma
teriaI to be plowed under in the
| spring.
One demonstration of thinning fruit
was given, in the summer and this
fall one demonstration of packing ap-
| pies was given.
Boys and Girls Clubs.
l have had the pleasure of helping
organize and of working with a
branch of the National Achievement
club. Work was confined this year to
three crops, potatoes. corn. and to
matoes. Each child who could sat
| isfactorily answer a few questions, on
his chosen crop, was enrolled as an
Achievement Club member There
were 294 children who were qualified
| to take up the work.
In each school one boy and one
girl were chosen as club leaders. 1t
was the duty of these leaders to see
| that each child in his school procured
good seed and planted ii according to
instructions.
We were fortunate in the selection
| of leaders. They were enthusiastic;
and complete reports from sixty boys
and girls gardens were received at
my Office. The final report in every