Putnam patriot., 1915-01-29
FARM IMPROVEMENT Organization To Be Formed in Windham
 County Meeting to be Held in udd Fellows Hall
 Monday Afternoon


 Monday Afternoon
 An important meeting of great inn portance 10 all farmers and business men in Windham County is to be held in Odd Fellows hall, Putnam, Mon- day, February lst, at P, m. for the purpose of forming Farm lm- provement Association. The meeting will be addressed by John C. Orcutt Of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, and Prof. Herbert J. Baker of Storrs Agri- cultural college.
 All modern businesses realize today the necessity of operating and market ing their products on business basis. The necessity ofisueh methods applies particularly to farmers that they may co operate as a body for the benefit of all including the business interests of a community. To follow successful methods in raising and dispo ing Of crops, to standardize the produce and sell in carload lots, to pursue methods found by experience to be successful and to eliminate the unsuccessful; these are very few of the objects Of such an association.
 Results
 Wherever these associations have been formed it has resulted:
 l. A greater production of farm pro- ducts, and if goods are properly mar. keted, more money.
 ,. Better prices for produce received through better systems of marketing.
 s. A general rise in land values. This has universally been true wher- ever this work has been carried on.
 1. It brings the business men and the farmers together on matters of common interest promoting closer re- lations and better understanding Of each
 ,. It binds the several communities of county together in common in terest and promotes a "get-together'' spirit.
 History of the Movement
 When the boil weevil attacked the cotton belt agricultural interests put demonstrators into the field to cambat the evil. Such excellent results i'm mediately followed that the question was at once asked, "Why not try such methods on other agricultural crops as wel?p
 The movement spread rapidly. There are now more than six hundred such demonstrators in the South and within the last three years more than two hundred counties in the North have been organized.
 The Agricultural Agent-tiis Duties
 The agents employed by these asso- citations should be men of scientific training and farm experience. Their work is varied. As large business in- terests employ efficient men to look after special branches of their business, so these men are trained specialists in the business of farming. One farmer or few could not employ such man but group can collectively secure such service. These agents make a study of the needs of the county, the adaptability of the land to certain crops They demonstrate the most improved agricultural methods sand farm practices. Being in touch with local conditions they discover why certain things lhave failed on some farms and succeeded on others, give publicity to the successful method and try to supplant the poorer way with the better.
 A part of the agents :work is to give advice on cropping systems, fertilizers, lining farm management, dairy breed ing and feeding, orchard management, care of poultry, and in nearly every line of farming. One of his particular duties may we'll be- there insufficient co operation to getsthe farmers each to plant certain quota of particular crop of potatoes, for instance of cer- tain kind, that they may be sold by the agent in carload lots.
 The agent also arranges a number of demonstrations on farms throughout the county in order that all in that To- eality may see the results achieved.
 How Such an Association is Supported
 The Federal government gives 5000 to each county.
 The State of Connecticut will give $500 to $500 and bill is to be intro duced into the legislature for further aid.
 The Shore Line Railroad ,has prom ised $500 As the last is not philan . thropic institution it's contribution is based on business principles and should be a fine example to the aver age business man who expects re- turn for his money.
 The balance of some 5000 must be contributed by the farmers and busi- ness men of the county, who are to be directly benefited.
 This sum of some 5000 to s450O is expended in the salary, office equip ment, demonstrations, and means of trausuorfetion of fhe agent about the