Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-02
Several Matters Before
Agricultural Committee

~
Tho committee on agriculture had
busy session Thursday afternoon WIZ"
several hearings.
The first to be taken up was inc re-
solve appropriating the sum OF sll'
7oa rs for tho wear 1917 and $lo,59e.?o
for the wear 1918 for cooperative work
bctween the College of Agriculture OF
the University Of Maine ana tne oni'cu
States Department Of Agriculture i'cp.
Charles F. Barnes of Houlloh uisco
that the committee unanimously Fote
for this resolve, as he SAD that the
money vas VOL expended and the OK
tension work was of great bencht 10
the farming industry of Name.
DR.. Robert j. Alley, president OF inc
University of Maine. explained TO the
committee the purpose of the approprla-
tion Two wears ago the State accepted
the Smith-Lcver congressional act, by
which the Federal Government gives
the state $4,000 a year and IN addltloh
to that duplicates the amount whlch
the state appropriates. County demon
strators arc working in Is OF inc 10
counties and during the past year SOM
crsct and Knox counties were added 10
the demonstration list
Wilson Conant Of Buckficld president
of lie Maine Pathological Society told
the committee that this work was OF
crn..t value to fthe agricultural inter-
c>ts. while remarks favorInG the appro-
prlation were made by Commissioner OF
Agriculture John \. Roberts, State
Dairy Instructor Frank S. Adams OF
Bowdoinham and II. l.. Copeland of
Brewer a former president of the
Maine Seed Improvement Association.
MI Copeland told Of the good work
which had been done in Pcnobscot coun-
ty ana argued that if good was done
in that county, it could be done as well
| in the other counties of the State.
| Commissioner Roberts spoke in favor
| of mo appropriation of $4,000 for the
year 1917 and $4,000 for the year 1913
for the bureau of markets and supplies.
cxplaining that this appropriation is
used 70 study the methods and costs of
marketing farm supplies i'll conjunction
with the Farmers Union.
State Dairy Instructor Frank S. Ad-
ans Of Bowdoinham told the commit
tee that the object of the bureau was
to get the producer nearer the con-
sumner. Someone has SAID that the
farmer gets 81 per cent. and someone
| else gets the ca per cent out of the 100
Der cent. which the consumer pays.
Poultry. for instance, is being shipped
| from Mainc to Boston and shipped
! back to Maine again, and Mr. Adams
n il hpI hat n
the line Of economy by any means. lie
believed that some way should be de-
VIscd to eliminate the comparatively
large amount which is received by the
middIeman, and it is the Guty of the
bureau Of markets and supply to study
these questions and see what can be
done.
Charles O. Gardner OF Waterville,
president OF the Maine Farmers Tn
ION stated that this work, if properly
conducted. would mean a big saving to
the farmers of Maine. and he believed
that this approx ration will be used to
good advantage as any appropriation
which will be asked at this session of
the Legislature. He believes that this
bureau will also see that good quail
ity Of produce il placed upon the mar
kct
Fred Fudge OF Lincoln. manager of
tho Farmers Union, stated that the
bureau Of markets and supplies has
reached the farmer in at least one
way. Prior to the establishment of
the Union a very small percentage of
the farmers had. any idea what their
crops would bring after they were
harvested. But now the farmer can
tell within a few cents on a busheI
that he will get for his produce in the
market
Wilson Conant of Buckfield, presi-
dent Of the Maine Pathological Society.
also spoke, q good word for the appro-
priatin.
Major Edward f. Philbrook Of Port
land. special field agent in charge OF
the gypsy moth work. spoke in favor
OF an appropriation of s35. 600 for each
or the next two years for the protec
ton Of trees and shrubs from the raw
ages OF dangerous insects and diseases.
Major Philbrook stated that the reason
Tor asking an increased appropria ton
is because Of the fact Of the LARGE I'D
vance OF all supplies used in the work.
The price of burlap is four times as
high as two years ago, that Of arsenate
of lead has doubled and there has been
a rapid increase in the Price of creo-
sote. The last Legislature appropriat-
ed $4,000 for each of the two years for
this work