The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-10-30
WHAT FARM BUREAU HAS
DONE IN SOMERSET
Reports nj Annual Meeting Held In
SkONhegan Tuesday

important part Of the program. lhere
have been one hundred and seventy
two meetings and demonstrations
carried on throughout the year, with
a total attendance of 1929. There
have been 961 calls and there are $50
members for 1924. In club work,
there are 376 boys and girls and Is
advised as to changes in farm prac-
tees. Relative to publicity 259' bull
letins have been distributed and l04
news articles prepared.
Other reports were as follows;
CLUBS
Probably the most successful club
year for a number of years was term
mated with the annual contest
at Skowhegan, September 9th.
There were 376 boys and girls en-
rolled in club work while 1874 finish
ed. Clubs were located in New Port
land, North Arson. Scion, South So
lon. Madison, Norridgewock. Corn
Vile, Harmony. Palmyra. St Adams,
Hartland. Cambridge and Fairfield.
County wide club activities were the
club field day at Lakewood June 10,
at which time 200 boys, girls and
parents were present and the county
mentiof&sis.x.sTh These big days in the
club cale7Itfar have a twofold purpose.
First, it gives the boys and girls an
opportunity for a day of pleasure and
enjoyment but the real purpose in my
mind, Is that the young people gain
an idea of the magnitude of the work
and realize that it is not just a local
affair carried on only in their own
TI.,Ia Ant nd 1T
Skowhegan fair, Scion fair and Athens
fair. Over 5000 has been won in
premiums. Frances Baine of St Al
bans, a former club member of Miss
Irene Libby. county club leader, was
selected from over 1000 boys and girls
to attend the leaders training school
at the Springfield Exposition. This
Is the second year In succession the
the honor of having an outstanding
club girl has fallen to Somerset
County. Surely this proves that Som
erset County has some real leaders
In the making.
FORESTRY WORK
Although not included in the 1924
program. small amount of work has
been done along forestry lines. My
ron Watson, forestry specialist con-
Quoted three subject matter meet
ings In the winter at which rs were
present. Later in the spring three
timber estimating demonstrations
were conducted with A In attendance.
Timber estimating work will allow
woodlot owners to determine the
amount of standing timber on their
woodlots as a means Of enabling them
ta ho 10 thio ri nf the farm IN
better financial advantage. Timber
Is just as much a crop as any other
we raise and from the general re-
Spouse to the work will prove very
popular in the future.
FARM MANAGEMENT
This project has been carried on
year after year to interest men in
keeping accounts on their various
phases of business. No business men
would long continue to be a success
unless some system of books were
kept. These are studied day by day
and week by week. all possible leaks
are stopped and every possible effort
made to make a good profit. When
a branch of a large business does not
pay 1t Is discontinued. Why then
should not the farmer, carrying on
the most difficult and valuable bust
ness know in this age wherein. he Is
making or loosing. True fifty years
ago when agriculture was the means
by which the majority of our popula-
ton secured their living slip shod
methods were possible. Not today
however. it is hard to convince the
average farmer that it is only few
minutes a day until the habit becomes
fixed to keep an account, especially a
faf4 &ecelrnt If so per cent of the
fafh ~ ~ this county keep such an
account his certain more profits
would be made by individuals. Eight
farm management meetings were held
the past year at which time lantern
slides were used to advantage, with
a total attendance of 14S
Many men have put into practice
the methods discussed at these meet
ings Twenty-six men started ac-
counts and twenty-three were still
keeping them the last Of August
More than one man has stated that
he could not get along without his
account book for reference. Seven
teen account books were summarized
for the year 1923. Nine poultry ac-
COunIS were htDl DOhlAl9
men and women to gain a better
idea of their business.
Potato cost accounts were kept al
lowing potato growers to determine
the cost per bushel to raise potatoes
and the labor return for their own
work. Accounts surely are worth
while. the difficulty lies in enabling
the average man to look on the idea
as one which demands but little of his
time; yet is worth a great deal to
him in dollars and cents.
POULTRY
The farm survey made during the
past year shows that there are nearly
four hundred focks of over fifty hens.
This shows that large number OF our
farm people are depending to some
extent upon their poultry for revenue.
Eight caponizing demonstrations were
conducted with thirty-seyen in at
tendance This work is still in the
experimental stage to Maine people,
the purpose being to demonstrate the
economical value of capons in COM
parison with the returns secured