DAIRY AND SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETINGS. l6l 



A speaker at our last annual meeting made the statement that 

 the loss sustained by the farmers in the United States from the 

 use of poor seed amounted to more than the losses from all other 

 sources combined, and he would not except even unfavorable 

 weather conditions. 



If this is true, and I believe it to be, in accordance with my 

 own observations, you can readily see it would figure an amount 

 almost beyond our comprehension. This gives some idea of the 

 scope of the field in which we are at work and what we aim to 

 accomplish. 



Seed improvement should appeal to all as it is an undertaking 

 which helps people to help themselves and there is no possible 

 way of injuring anyone or putting anybody out of business. 



Someone has said : "One of the best services a man can 

 render his state is that of finding good seed as it re-inforces and 

 materially increases the results obtained from labor on the land.'^ 



With farm products, taken as a whole, selling for higher 

 prices than were ever before known in the world's history, no 

 farmer, considering the high cost of production, can afiford to 

 use anything but the best of seed. 



Ten per cent increase in the field crops of Maine, which has 

 been shown to be a low estimate of the increase in yield of im- 

 proved seed, would amount to more than $4,000,000, annually. 

 And what is more, when we improve the crop, we improve the 

 man, which it not one of the least of our objects. 



President Copeland: The next on the program is the 

 report of the secretary ; he does not seem to be present. 



Dr. Woods : I move that the report be postponed until the 

 time of the secretary's arrival ; and I suggest that this be made 

 a matter of record. 



The motion, being duly seconded, was declared a vote. 



President Copeland: We seem to be in about the same 

 condition in regard to the treasurer. 



Dr. Woods : I would make the same motion — that the report 

 be postponed until the time of the treasurer's arrival ; and that 

 this be made a matter of record. 



The motion, being duly seconded, was declared a vote. 



On motion, it was 



Voted, that the president name a nominating committee and 

 a committee on resolutions ; these committees to make their 



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