The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-11-02
Somerset County Agricultural News
Farm Bureau Work for Past Year

The following reports were pres
ented at the annual meeting of tht
Somerset County Farm Bureau helC
Tuesday at the Grange Hall in Skow
hogan, giving some idea of the work
accomplished by the organization dur.
ing the past year.
The total enrolment was go re .
! II clubs. The agents made total
of so visits to the clubs. Nine of
the seventeen clubs made up programs
of work. Seven were standard clubs,
of which two received seal of ACHE
vement this year. Two clubs held
local contests. Four clubs had de-
monstration teams. One of these
clubs, st. Adams, had two demonstra-
ton teams, making total of five
teams. Everything considered, this
has been the best year of club work
in Somerset County.
ACCOUNTS
Three milk cost accounts are being
kept in Hartland. Twenty-Five farm
accounts are being kept and will be
farm accounts were given out in 1922.
Twelve poultry accounts are being kept
and will be summarized. Twenty
seven of these accounts will be start
ed for next year ON November first.
Twenty-three potato cost accounts are
being kept. Two farm management
extension schools were held, one in
North Arson and one in Athens.
DAIRY
An estimated yield by the growers
of PA tons per acre in 1921 in COM
paratiye demonstrations set the value
of Mammoth Flint at $500 per ton
more than the value per acre of 9TH
er silage corns with which they com
pared it. Using these figures as a
basis on 312 acres with a production
of 12.4 tons, We have 3,86S.8 tons sill
age corn, and figured at the $500 per
ton value more than the corn with
which 1t was compared, 1t represents
a saving on silage corn alone to Som
erset County farmers of $7,73760.
Two hundred and fifty-seven cows
were tested for tuberculosis during
the year. A low percentage of di-
sease is manifest, as but one posi-
tive reactor was found.
Three locals of the Maine Sheep
and Wool Growers Association, was
organized. one each in Athens, Scion
and New Portland.
POULTRY
Forty poultry culling demonstrations
have been held during 1922. Thirty
one reports have been sent in, and
show that 1897 hens were handled; the
week before culling they laid 4345
eggs, or about 81 per cent; the week
after culling the 1897 good hens laid
1887 eggs and the 900 culls the week
after culling laid 100 eggs. 1t has
been figured that 500 culls in 80 days
would eat $3.50 worth of food.
These culling demonstrations were
held in nearly every organized com
munity in, Somerset County, and in
several new communities. In many
cases the demonstrators or other in
terested persons wrote in and asked
for the demonstration.
Sixty-six people enrolled in the poul-
try culling campaign.
Three caponizing demonstrations
were held, one in North Arson and
two in Mercer.
ORCHARD
Eleven pruning demonstrations were
held during 1922. ore orchard plant
ing demonstration was held. Three
busting demonstrations were arrang-
ed for In connection with the State
Department of Agriculture. but be-
cause of bad weather only one was
held. Meetings, however. were held
at the time scheduled for the demons
trations and discussion of the work
taken up.
In connection with the orchard
planting plan, S96 young trees were
delivered. More were ordered but
too late to be secured Two bulle-
tins on planting and care of young
trees were delivered to all men or
dering these trees.
CROPS
One hundred and forty-two acres
have been reported as being planted
to Maine $40 oats In 1922. The pro-
duction has not been fully turned in
but to date it is indicated as about
36,9 bushels per acre on 4075 acres
Two potato spraying demonstrations
were held, and three Bordeaux mix
ing demonstrations. One bin selec-
ton of potatoes demonstration was
held. Several calls were made In
connection with the work in potato
seed plots.
CLOTHING
In all. thirty-four clothing meetings
have been held with the Home De
monstration agent and three three
dsv schools (clothing) were held II
the county. At these schools sixty
one foundation waist patterns were
made.
One hundred and twenty dress
forms have been made at cost o.
$136.3S, valued at $1,000, giving a saw
ing of $1063.62. Forty-four of thes,
were made by the women themselves
at in-between meetings.
Summary of Millinery work:
Millinery work has been carried oil
in the following communities: Hart
land, St. Adams, Cornville, Skowhe