The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-10-30


general.
More. such movements are needed
for cooperation shortens the route
Cooperation shortens and makes di
rect road from producer to consum
er whereby each benefits. The ulti
mate cost to the consumer is nc
greater because of cooperation. The
greatest benefit will accrue to the
! producer because the product Is plac
/ ed more nearly in the consumer
hands, hence several middlemen are
eliminated and the toll they take Of
the final cost becomes the property
of the producer.
CROPS
In speaking of crops the first thing
that comes TO mind is the value OF the
work being done along crops lines
First then Is the work done with i'm
proved potato seed. The purpose Is
to demonstrate that the quality of pc.
tato seed now in use can be improved
by disease control practices and to
disseminate such seed throughout the
potato areas. The methods and re-
suits in some cases have not been
exactly as outlined, but the idea that
there Is such a thing as better seed
and that it pays has been put across.
Thirty-six men have carried seed
plots. One grower states, Il did not
realize the difference in seed was so
great I would never plant other than
improved seed His yield is over
400 bushels to the acre.
Thirty men treated over seventy
acres of potatoes for rhizoctonia and
scab. Though the increase in yield
has not been noticeable to any great
extent many are satisfied that it pays.
One man who treated states, THE
difference in yield was not noticeable,
those treated, however. appear to be
whittier, larger and nearer the same
size" To prove that lime is beneficial
to sour soil seventeen men used a
total of 40 tons of lime. All are
satisfied as to its value. Seven kale
control demonstrations were conduct
ed, three men who have reported
averaged better than 80 per cent con-
troll using from II to 20 pounds of
copper sulphate tblue vitroD. Two
men have planted alfalfa for the first
time this year. The success OF
their venture will not be known much
before next year.
Because of the value TO the health
and well being OF the individual, 1t
seems that accredited herd work
ranks well to the fore in dairy inn
provement work. Since the last
annual meeting 1920 COWS have been
tested for T. B. in IL of our Is or
ganized communities. 249 herds
were tested while more work is still
being planned for November. There
are only five reactors of .02 of one
per cent. To prove that this work
Is becoming known and means bet
ter sale opportunity let me read
letter from Connecticut.
County Farm Bureau Agent
Somerset County, Maine.
Dear Sir an article in
the New England Homestead we
have noticed that your county has
an enviable record for tuberculin
tested COWS.
We deal in tuberculin tested cows
in this state and are anxious to
locate sections where We can find
good cows, principally Guernseys,
which have passed one or more
clean tests. Can you refer me to
some one who deals in cows in
your county and who could give
me information relative to quality,
prices etc? At the present time
we are importing from Vermont
and Canada and Wisconsin and
would like to consider Ibuying
from Maine.
FA. nNslN nY1N ND
thanking you in advance for your
kindness, | am
Very truly yours.
THE LYMAN FARM,
BY John Lyman
Work OF this sort is only possible
where there Is a good farm bureau
organization, and the individuals
themselves will assist in carrying
out the work when called upon to do
so. The Know Your Cow project
was in the past years program to
provide means among dairymen for
a better knowledge of the yearly milk
and butterfat production of their In
dividual COWS. The original plan
was to have eight communities with
10 men or more in a community in
order to have the work in the COM
munity. 1t was found impossible In
some cases to get that many so the
tests have been run with less. The
communities included are Norridge-
wock, Larone, Mercer. Madison, Rip
ley and Hartland 300 cows are be-
ing tested After the third test has
been run. meetings will be held to
compute the total yearly milk and
butter fat production of each COW
from the milk records 1t will be
recommended that Improbable cows
be disposed of and improved methods
he put into practice. Every man
should know not only what his herd
is doing but also his individuals
which are either boarders or payers.
This project allows him to know with
but little effort on his part.
ORCHARD
The only campaign of the year for
the county was a pruning campaign
This campaign was carried with the
intentions of reaching as many men
with orchards as possible, size OF the
same being no consideration. True
there are only a few that can be
o.1Iod orrhardo In a