The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-03-04

interes's oi agriculture spoke to audiences
numbering $4,000, but we have not vet spc.
ceeded in setting them at work. The .b;nos
that were told the people were not nut into
practice. The merely talking of the truths of
agriculture does not bring the results unt;,
the truths are placed'in application. It ia al.
ways big question as to how many of the
people have profted by these lectures. Farm
demonstrations started in Germany, A demon.
stration farm owned by State or corporation
Is not particularly success as an example to
the farmer, because he feels that it is backed
by funds which he cannot have, and if it is
successful he simply claims that it is due TO
the fact that the State or the railroad ia be-
hind it. while if they fail he looks upon it as
the lack OF the proper application of the
right methods. The county demonstrator
sent out by the agricultural department of the
college is simply an agricultural doctor and
advises on problems placed before him. He
advises the man, but too often does not return
to see what the results were The demonstra-
ton work in Maine is the pioneer work in the
county. 1t is the case where the demonstrator
goes out and sets up the demonstration and
~NSS
turns there to see what the results are. The
people are talking of the demonstration and he
returns to face it. That is the kind of demon
stration. and the kind of farming work that is
needed, if we would improve the farming
communities of Maine.
The Maine Agricultural Experiment Station
has established the value of spraying potatoes.
but it is not in common use in any State but
Maine. The land is the greatest asset Of the
nation There are tremendous problems in
farming, both scientific and economic. The
labor income of the farmer does not average
over $4O0. What we need is farm demonstra-
tion work and organization. We are doing
farm demonstration work in Cumberland
county at this time in order that we may test
the weather risks. The resident of the CITY
has his business risks all figured down in mat
ter of insurance, but where does the farmer
come in in the matter of the weather risks, and
all his work and crops depend upon that ele-
ment.
The average yielG of apples under ordinary
conditions two bushels to the tree but
under the scientific demonstrating methods
the yield has been two barrels to the tree. A
man should not grow the crop he likes the
best unless it is the crop from which he can
make the most money. man should not
grow oats in Maine, because he can make no
money unless he can grow more than an aver
age yield, but if he would grow oats he should
grow them in the west where they can be
grown to advantage.
Dean Merrill gave an outline of the work in
growing in the different counties of the differ
ent crops and those grown to advantage He
told of the advantage of crops raised under
demonstration and what the demonstration
WORK was. He stated that the only need of
the farmer was to start his agricultural knowl
edge at work to be governed by what he could
raise to the best advantage on his farm, not
what he liked the best. Do not select your
cows because you like the color. but select the
cow that will bring you the best returns and is
the money maker for your section and farm,
whether she is black of white.
During the evening all joined in singing to
the tune of "Tipperary" the following song
entitled Boost Belfast" written for the occa-
sion by Walter ]. Clifford:
Around the streets of Belfast,
In good old days gone by,
A bunch of wiley knockers
Knocked the good old town sky high;
When crowd of earnest workers
Kind of got a hunch
That Belfast still was on the map
And still was full of punch.
CHORUS.
Boom old Belfast, that's the spirit
That should permeate the air;
Quit that knocking, start to boosting,
Buy at home" is only fair,
For the merchant that does business
In this fair ole town of fame
Is the fellow that always helps you,
In Belfast, down in Maine.
The knockers took to running
And they are going yet;
The boosters still are boosting,
And are making good, you bet
But they want more men to help them