Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-02-01
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPKED TIE PLow."


II
Prof. George A. Yeaton, as Democrat
readers know, has resigned his position
as Oxford County Demonstration Agent
on account OF poor health, and retired
TO his farm in Augusta. Something
about his work may DO interesting to
readers.
Prof. Yeaton has been in Norway as
county agent for the past nine years
and has established Q record IN this
length of time, as there are only two
| in the United States who have held the
position rs long, the average length be-
ing about II months.
A vast amount of territory is covered
IN this work, with Upton at the extreme
north and Porter at the south Of the
county. Prof. Yeston has answered
calls TO every part of the county on
short notice, giving practical advice in
orchardiug, dsirying, sheep and hog
questions, In fact on all the different
phases Of farming. He brought to bis
work extensive personal experience and
keen observation and study along scien-
tific lines, and his departure will be q
distinct loss to the agricultural interests
of this section
Prof. Yeaton has been identified in
orchard work in Maine for many years
and was connected with the Horticul-
tursl Department under Commissioners
of Agriculture John A. Roberts. he
was connected with the Experiment.
Station at Orono, with headquarters at
Highmoor Farm, as scientific orchsrdist,
leaving to accept the position as county
agent of Oxford County with headqnar-
sers at Norway. In addition to this
work he has done extensive work in
lecturing in and out Of the state. His
services have been sought in judging
the fruit exhibits in New England and
elsewhere, and he has acIed for many
years as Judge at the Maine State POmo-
logical and the New Englsnd Fruit
Growers exhibitions.
He has been a member of the Farmers
Uuiou since its organization, and has
been instrumental in organizing many
fruit growers associations in the state.
During the war when the food campaign
as on, Mr.. Yeaton was secretary OF the
Oxford County Food Production Com
mittee and ali during the period of the
war handled this work through his
office, the chairman OF this committee
making the county agents office bis
headquarters. During that time he was
able TO put across the food production,
and as is we'll known Oxford County led
the New England States in proportion
to the number of farmers. When the
fuel shortage threatened, the county
agent organized campaign for ''Cut
Cord" and through his efforts in this
direction the farmers were interested to
cut wood for themselves and the county
to the amount of over 100 cords more
than would ordinarily have been cut.
In many instances hard wood was cut
from timber lots which improved the
black growth and added value to the lot.
Again during the sugar shortage, Mr..
Yeston established the "Tsp Tree"
campaign, which he has said "was the
sw eetest job he ever tackled" He put
this over through the grangers by send :
ing letters and personal interviews, and
hundreds of gallons of syrup were made.
Many people who had only shade trees
in their dooryards entered into the
spirit of the campaign and made quarts
Of sweet syrup. The Boys and Girls
Club work has claimed much of his at
tention st certain times of the year, and
with the assisianc Of A. Van Den Kerck-
hoven of Bethel this work has been q
marked success. The amount OF work
that Mr.. YeatOn has accomplished would
be hard to tell, but that be has been .
busy man, and leaves Oxford County in
much better condition than he found 1t
goes without saying, and he has brought
TO the attention of the farmers many
scientific methods that have brought
money to their Golfers. Cattle, sheep,
hogs, poultry have all received his in
structiou, IS well as the orchsrding, the
pests OF the pines and the forests, and
through bis work these trees have been
saved in the village and other places.