Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-02-08


seeds to the points where they are
needed.
The thil., problem is one of the most
veAing. In money market feverish
from war conditions, can the farmer
receive proper banking accommoda-
tions. First, let us distinguish between
capital loans to run over long periods
aud temporary loans for one season.
The former can be secured by various
forms of mortgages either from pri-
vatc individuals or banks through the
Federal Land Bank system or for GER
tain purposes. from the newly organized
Maine Farm Land Loan Commission.
The latter class of loans, temporary in
character, are in the farming business
the equivalent to ordinary commercial
paper. These loans are made on per-
scnal credit and neither the State nor
fully furnish them. The amount
of personal supervision involved would
he prohibitivc. Yet large numbers Of
Just such temporary loans must be
placed if The crops are to he planted.
May | suggest that you advise the
farmers of Maine to try for this pur-
pose the cooperative credit plan that
has proved SO successful abroad. No
Legislation is necessary for such a trial
though. as the plan has worked out.
tho wisdom of legislation in the future
may become apparent. Instead of try
irg to place loans singly, let farmers
form groups of ten or more, make n
joint note for the total of their require
mcnts and present it to their nearest
bank. if the bank will not handle it
let me know and I will try to help find
Il bank that will take it.
! You can do no better service to agri~
culture in Maine this year than TO
urge thorough trial of this credit
plan.
| | am assuIed in Washington that the
! federal reserve banks viii give special
attention to agricultural paper in the
consideration of notes presented by
/ banks for re- discount.
! On the fourth topic there is no
complete federal programme as vet
| Only the power to fix prices on wheat
las been granted by Congress. Any
| further power, if it comes at all, will
| not be likely to be made available be-
fore our crop planting season. ! am
! assured. however. that there will be
no adverse price fixing from Washing
ton. that IS, no action that will deprive
! farmers of u fair and reasonable profit.
! IN this connection it is proper to urge
Iacain the continuance Of all reasonable
efforts to eliminate undue profits of
middIemen and to improve marketing
conditions.
/ The question Of what crops to plant
/ is ono upon which | am not competent
to give advice hnt urge your con
, ,sideration of the wisdom of increased
acreage in wheat because il is 4 light
labor crop. one upon which fair re-
turn is assured, and a crop which New
! England must now import from a long
distance. In view of transportation
conditions the nearer we can come to
feeding ourselves in New England. the
more completely shall we meet the sit
uation.
The whole problem Of transportation
as related to farm products is very
serious and is receiving earnest con-
sideration at Washington. 1t is pos
siblc that :; zone system will be adopt
lcd, giving each farming section the
| '''''N ''' NN'2' W itS I'll 1iIdTHtl uD
to the limit Of possible production.
The advantage of such a system to the
Maine farmer would be obvious. it
would establish Maine in its natural
position as the garden of New Eng.
land.
! IN general. then. appeal with con-
Hdence TO the patriotism of the farm
ers Of Maine. The great task of pro-
ducinG food is yours. No one can do
II for You. The most even your State
ana Federal governments can do is to
give You intelligent and adequate CO
/ operation. hope the government at
Washington Will Vet develop it's pro
Sramme beyond the points which I
have outlined. am at their service
and yours, for all the possible assist
ance which the State can give"
Inc morning session opened with
singing of columbia, the Gem of the
/ ocean Discussion of queries drawn
from the question box took up q
large portion of the time Mrs. Kate
II. Ellis of Fairfield spoke intercsting
+, ~ IN answer TO the question as to
/ hoW each member may he induced to
/ ~ - W. ~ tilc program. She said
! that she had found that bv asking
such cooperation as q favor rather
than making q demand better results
are obtained. il. L.. Copeland OF
/ brewer, lecturer Of PeDobScot Grange.
explained scheme which he has
adopted for Grange programs. Read
/ ings by Jeanette Greene Of this citv.
who possesses wonderful elocutionary
/ "hllitN for child, and by Miss Anna
Savage Of bingham Grange, were much
enjoyed.
Commissioner Roberts
Commissioner of Agriculture John
A. Roberts was the speaker in the
afternoon. Corporation with the De-
partment of Agriculture" was the sub
Ject OF his earlier remarks, but the
commissioner included also IN his ad-
dress consideration of what lines Of
agriculture should receive chief at
tentlon and what crops it is most ad-
Vlsable to raise in the present emer-
gency.
! Mr.. Roberts expressed his thanks to
the Oranges for their valuable assist
ance to the dcpartment by opening