Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-06-27
COUNTY FARM BUREAU.


AAhAtoSa COaHtyy Wnit1 Will US A10 nLbt
OF its kind in the State. The appeal Of
County Agent worden for the men Of
of this county to get behind the movement
has met with hearty and ready response.
Here are few Of the responses received:
From Sullivan: Your letter received last
night informing me OF the meeting held
in Ellsworth relative to an organization OF
farm bureau in this county. will say
that am in sympathy with this meeting,
and will do ali that can to help the
novel,
From Penobscot: "Yours OF June 10 re-
ceiyed. lam in full sympathy with the
movement, and will do all that can to
ASSIST
From Lamoine: 81 think the farm
bureau will be fine thing for our county,
and would advance all lines of agriculture
so much needed at this time"
From Bucksport: "The farm bureau
scheme looks more substantial than any
thing yet Look to me for push"
From Surry; I'm reply to your con-
munication, will say that am heartily
in sympathy with the movement for
county organization. | am not in posi-
tion to do very much, but will surely do
all that CAM
The present agitation for farm bureau
is eliciting a great many inquiries as to
the origin and development OF the move
ment which is doing much for the county.
In an interview at his Office, County Agent
Worden gave brief explanation OF the
nation wide activity. He said in part:
..Soon after the establishment of agri-
cultural colleges half century ago,
and the experiment stations quarter
century ago, farmers in all sections OF the
country began to call on them for assis-
lance in solving farm problems. These
calls became so numerous that it seriously
interfered with the time OF the resident
! teachers in the colleges. This led in time
to the establishment Of an agricultural
. extension service in every state in the
union.
1.-The college OF agriculture at Orono, APP
proximately from its esta blishment in
1865, gave lectures and demonstrations in
various parts OF the State and maintained
an advice BY mail service. The demands
! for assistance from different sections OF
the State warranted the establishment of
a department OF agricultural extension in
1907. Through this department, monthly
bulletins on timely topics and news
service have been maintained.
SIN 1912 funds became available, and it
was felt that the college could serve the
farmers OF the State by appointing county
agents with headquarters in the several
counties. Three men were placed in
counties in 1912, and the number has been
increasing until there are but two
counties in the State without Q county
agent at the present time.
"The work in the following counties is
| supported by contributions from the
General Education Board OF New York
city: Cumberland, Kennebec, Oxford,
Hancock and Washington. The work in
the remaining counties is supported
comparatively by the State and the U. s..
Department OF Agriculture. To assist
the county agents in their work-to serve
as ammunition carriers for the men on
the firing line-a corps OF specialists
composed OF poultry man, dairyman,
farm Management demostrator, three
boys and girls club workers and several
home economics workers, has been en-
ployed.
1.-THE county agent is really the 60 be-
| tween for the college and experiment sta
tion and the farmer. He brings into the
county, in addition to wide practical ex-
perience in farming, the best Of theory,
and adapts it to local conditions. He
does not center his work around lectures
and written matter, but demonstrates,
with the assistance Of various farmers,
the best-known practices in growing
crops and livestock. For example, po-
tato demonstration is located in some
community. The county agent and the
demonstration talk over plans, each
contributing to them, and then
crops cared for, and marketed
with the advice OF the county agent. In
return for the service rendered by the
county agent at his visits every two weeks,
the demonstrators keep an accurate ac-
count OF all receipts and expenditures,
and at the end of the year balance the
accounts to determine not how much the
yield was, but how much the profit was.
"Among the other activities OF the county
agent are boys and girls agricultural
clubs, extension schools, comparative
demonstrations, etc.
"During the past year the ten county
agents in their several counties
carried 952 demonstrations OF various
kinds, conducted extension schools with
an attendance OF 352, organized more than
$50 boys and girls clubs with approx
mately 1900 members, organized four cow
test associations, four cattle- breeders,
| associations, three egg marketing circles,
and two fruit-growers' associations, con-
Quoted a campaign in which approx
| imately 100 poultry houses were construc-
ted or remodled, gave assistance in con-
structing thirteen home made silos, and
assisted farmers in scores Of other lines Of