l6o AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



demonstrate to the farmer the great practical advantage which 

 may result from the use of such seed. With this aim in view, 

 you will notice in our premium list, we have offered special 

 premiums for garden seeds, the seed to be accompanied by a 

 si^ecimen of the kind of product the seed produces. 



In accordance with the resolution adopted at our last annual 

 meeting, we have established a sale table where samples of cer- 

 tified seed will be shown and orders taken, with the hope that 

 in time it may become customary for visitors to give orders for 

 their next season's seed and know what they may expect to 

 grow. 



. In this connection I believe we, as an association, should con- 

 demn the wasteful, extravagant method of the Federal Govern- 

 ment in the free distribution of seed. We have received enough 

 radish seed in the past two years to supply the Copeland family 

 for the next four generations, and this entirely unsolicited. 



Much of the seed is unreliable and its use works greater 

 injury than benefit to the farmer. The law or method by which 

 this distribution is now carried out is desired only by a few 

 Congressmen who imagine they can use it as a magnet to draw 

 some rural votes. 



Our aim is to put this association on a sound, systematic 

 basis — in other words, to make it thoroughly reliable and 

 efficient. We want it to mean more to the agriculture of the 

 state and to ourselves than any other association could mean. 



If we are to accomplish this it is necessary to exercise the 

 most thoughtful deliberation in its management. It should be 

 reliable to the extent that certified seed be furnished in large 

 enough quantities to be of some consequence or to supply the 

 demand, and we should also keep the subject and need of seed 

 improvement constantly before the farmer. 



The work of this association is reciprocal and cooperative to 

 a greater extent than any other kindred organization in the 

 state. Reciprocal for the reason the grower of improved seed 

 receives a greater benefit than the one who produced it ; coop- 

 erative — not as some understand the term, i. e., to combine to 

 beat the other fellow or to put some one out of business, — but 

 to work together for the mutual good of all. 



We have done but little propaganda in the way of trying to 

 add to our membership list, because we wished first to put it on 

 a working basis and have something definite to show. 



