Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-02
COUNTY AGENTS ANNUAL REPORT
how. He Has Visited Over Seven Hundred Farmers Their Farms During the Past Twelve Months Annual Meeting of New London County League to Be Held Today-Many Entries Expected For the County Corn Farm in the Town Hall

county Agent F. c. Warner will pre- sent his annual report at the annual meeting of the New London County Improvement league to be held today at the town hall. The county corn fair is to be held at the town hall to- day also, and IL Is expected. that there will be large number Of entries. Fol- lowing the reading of the annual re- ports, the election of officers and the address of the day, the announcement and awarding of the prizes for the corn fair will take place.
 The judges for the corn fair are to be as follows: Mems classes, Prof. w. L. Slate, Jr., and Prof. B. J. South wick. both of the Connecticut Asr- cultural college at Storrs: women's classes, Miss Maud L. Hayes, profes- sor of home economies at Storrs; chil- drens' classes, Miss M. F. Sprague.
 County Agents Report.
 The annual report of the county agent follows;
 Following the policy 50 successfully carried out last year of drawing up in project form the principal lines of work to be carried out by the Farm Bureau during the year. early last January the directors met and adopt CT Projects in Cooperative buying Orchard Improvement and adopted Projects in Cooperative buying. Or chard Improvement Corn Improve ment and Club Work. These pro- jects were laid out in definite form and have been followed closely through out the season. Other lines of work taken up, but not in project form have been: Field tests and demonstrations, Farm Management. Dairy Improve ment, Extension Schools, Institutes, Fair Exhibits and other miscellaneous work. This work is reported below under its proper heading. ..
 Cooperative Buying.
 The objects of this project ares First, to encourage communities of small groups of farmers to cooperate to buying feeds and fertilizers so that large orders may be placed at whole reduced to minimum. Second, to en- courage the standardization of farm products and secure Q co-operat ton Of farmers in producing crops in such quantities as to attract the attention of buyers and so create ready mar ket for farm produce put up in att tractive shape. Method of procedure: Any group of farmers may call on the county agent to meet them and dis- cuss the advisabiiity Of buying or of selling co-0perativeiy. Should such a step seem advisable, the county agent will help them to organize in the best way to accomplish the desired re- suits, advise them as to markets prices, shipping rates and facilities an dany line of business methods on which they may need assistance. Such or it's representative will transact all the business and handle tNe funds of the association and the county agent will in no case enter into the business in other than an adus- Ory capacity.
 Last spring i've groups of farmers took advantage of this opportunity to buy lime for agricultural purposes co operatively. Each group elected one of their number to order the lime, talk Ing orders and money from each man In tane group. Cars were un1oaded in Norwich by Past Director A W. Lil- in Colchester, by R. A. Storrs; lD Preston, by Assistant Director A. P. Bennett; in Baltic by Director AL Bson B. Ladd. Jr. and In Jewetr City by Director J. B. Palmer. This ma tSrial was bought for 70 cents per ton below regular prices and after March 1, this regular price was increased 3g cents per ton so that thess farm CTS made a total net saving of s152.5o on their five carloads. Mary have spoken of buying grasn under this project but &s yet no groupa have got ten together for the purpeSe,
 Orchard Improvements ek
 l7rEt, tc improve orchard nnax.ase- inent throughout the county by means oS demcastrations in pruning and in spraying. Second. to encourage prop er methods of handling, grading and packing fruit. Third. when conditions encouragement and assistants will be given to-. farmers in small groups In organizing co-opeaattvs as- societions for standardizing knd mar kettng their fruit and for tho purchase of orchard supplies. Metrod. of proce- dure: Demonstrations in pruning wfll bc arranged for on duplication sent either to the local director or the county agent. Applications will be granted in crder of receipt In com unurities where there is sufficient in- terest in orcharding two or three dem- may be conducted, those 10 be located on farms selected by the people Of the community in con ference with the local directors and the county agent. No demonstration will be- given unless the co-operator is entire season and the county agent on his part agrees to see that it Is car ried out. It is understood that in conducting these demonstrations the farmers will bring their saws and spend one-haf day doirg actual prun- ing work under the direction of the county agent. The farmer on whose farm the, demonstration is located shall agree to prJlne tie remainder of his orchard and to spray his orchard with lime sulphur for the dormant spray and with arsenate of lead for codling- moth. Spraying demonstra- lions will be arranged in orchards where pruning denlunstrations have been conducted and in order proper ly pruned orchards. The owner of the orchard agrees te furnish all ma :erials and machinery for the spraying of the orchard. fy,S{ FfET
 I. his project were received then could pc granted and seversl of those grant sd had to be postponed until later Hates on account of the deep snow T--- ls