Putnam patriot., 1915-01-22

ticut Development Committee held in Owls hall last Friday afternoon the plan for a Farm League for Windham county was discussed and endorsed by the meeting. It was voted to have a committee of nine appointed, three to be appointed by each of the presidents of the Putnam, Willimantie and Dan- ielson business mems associations, and that said committee be instructed to ascertain the necessary steps to take to form permanent organization and to report at meeting to be held in Put nam, Monday, February lst.
 The meeting held Friday was most importont one for farmers ofWindham county, for if the plan goes through they will be greatly benefited. It was to be deplored that there was not a larger representation lof County farm CTS at the meeting as the league will mean much 10 them. They will, how ever, have an opportunity to be present at the next meeting and give the move ment their support, and there should be large representative gathering.
 Fridays meeting was presided over by President J. T. Gruttenden of New London, who with Secretary Charles w. Pearson of Norwich, Prof. II. J. Baker of Storrs college, and Murray D. Lincoln, New London county agent, oceupiedEthe platform. Others from out of town were Mayor T. c. Murphy of Norwich, chairman of the Norwich committee, Frank H. Smith past pres- ident of the Norwich business mems association, and the .present president, H. R. Branch, C. I. Smith, Will h.. Somers, John H. Vaughn of the Shore Line Electric road C. J. Isbister, Louis Nj. Crandall, all of Norwich, Edward $. Doton, Fred Chidsey, F. S. Hitch. cock, Thomas Howe, Edward C. Ford, all of New London; B. c. Hopkins, F. E. Bitgood, of Danielson, the latter president of the Danielson association; President J c. Tracy, and D. 4. l4y. man, Willimantic.
 The meeting was called to order by President Cruttenden, who introduced the New London County Agent, Mur- ray D. Lincoln.
 MT. Lincoln outlined briefly the pur. pose af the meeting, stating that farm bureau work was advancing rapidly and will be established in every coun- ty in the state sooner or later. He sta ted that money had been appropriated by the United States government to carry the work forward The speaker then introduced Prof. H. J. Baker of Storrs Agricultural College.
 Professor Baker said in part, that the movement being undertaken started in the South when the boil weevil Infest. ed that district. Agents were sent out to instruct the farmers how to contend with the destructive pest. Congress has passed the Weaver bill which ap propriates ,0O0 to leach state for the purpose of establishing farm bureaus and advancing agricultural work. The movement had been very successful and was showing good results. The speaker then gave some statistics reia- tive to farm lands, and among other things stated that only 45 per cent of the total farm land of the state is inn proved. This is a falling oil of 30 per cent in past years. Only 52 per cent is producing crops, The present move ment will have the effect to remedy this. On the 26, 900 farms in the state the crop yield is decreasing while the population of the state is increasing, which is A factor in the high cost of living. There are SS 900 acres Of farm land in the state, 50,000 crop produc- ing and 3S, ,000 not producing crops. So far the New London county lorganiza- ton is the only one perfected, but pre- limlnary steps have been taken in Litchfield, Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven counties. Another reason for the institution of the present line of work was the call on the agricultural colleges for similar work which result ed in the extension service in these colleges. The work was started in this state by Dr. Jarvis of Storrs college, who recently resigned to accept gov ernment position in Washington. The college wants, and is ready, to help, hut there has got to be local move ment all over the county backed by the granges, associations and the indi- vidual farmer. The work affects all citizens: the farmer because he gets in. struction and will produce better crops the business man because the farmer receiving more for his crops will spend more; the consumer because he will get better product.
 Considering the financial aspect, he stated that there was thousand dol lars available from the government ap- propriation, another thousand from the agricultural collegeI and the Shore Line Electric Company has promised to contributed $500. 1t is proposed to introduce bill in the general assem. bly, for the purpose of getting county and state aid. It will cost four 10 five thousand dollars year 10 carry on the work and contributions and member 4-----------------