24 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



the association. W ith this assurance. Mr. Porter employed 

 Roland B. Hovey and J. F. Hussey, two very careful farmers, 

 to do this work at a total cost of $32 for the shipping inspec- 

 tion around Houlton. 



Some time in June letters were sent to some of those who 

 bought this certified seed from Houlton, which was inspected 

 as it was being sacked, asking for information as to its quality 

 and the apparent results in the field. The letters received in 

 reply were very encouraging. One of these from Frank C. 

 Danser, who buys for the Farmers' Cooperative Association of 

 Mercer county. New Jersey, is as follows : 



iC 



Trenton, N. J., June 17, 1916. 

 "E. A. Rogers, 



"Augusta, Maine. 



^'My dear Brother Rogers: 



"I note from your valued favor of the 15th. just received, 

 that you are desirous to learn whether the seed potatoes pur- 

 chased by us last spring from parties in Maine, and the same 

 bearing the certificate of the Maine Seed Improvement Asso- 

 ciation and Department of Agriculture, were, as a whole, any 

 better than others purchased in your state by this (our) asso- 

 ciation — or the so-called "selected" seed. 



"In reply to this question we can answer it in a word : YES, 

 emphatically YES. 



"We might add that, to date, we have received flattering 

 reports only from those customers to whom we sold certified 

 seed from the several cars purchased by us thru our mutual 

 friend, Mr. Guy C. Porter. Our only regret is, that all of our 

 seed (of which we had a vast quantity in flie aggregate) should 

 not have been measured up to the same standard of excellence. 



"We have completed arrangements to hold, on the 21st inst., 

 a public tour of inspection, under the auspices of the Mercer 

 County Farm Bureau, which will include several potato field 

 demonstrations. These auto tours were inaugurated by the 

 Bureau several years ago, and are appealing to the more ad- 

 vanced agriculturists in greater measure on each successive 

 occasion. We hope to have about 500 people out on this occa- 

 sion, and wish we might number you and Mr. Porter among 

 our midst on this one. If at all possible, please try and ar- 

 range to come down later in the season, before the vines break. 



"Wish you would try and come down a little later in the 

 season. If you can arrange to leave, even for a brief sojourn 

 with us, I should be delighted to take you over the potato belt 

 within our territorial jurisdiction for the purpose of acquaint- 



