12 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



be an unfortunate thing for the agricultural community, be- 

 cause, if our education amounts to anything, it is a well-estab- 

 lished fact that potash is an absolute necessity, and until this 

 is disproven, the crop is taking from the ground the surplus 

 that has been stored there, and which will mean, if continued, 

 the absolute exhaustion of potash from the soil. This ulti- 

 mately must be replenished from some source. I do not believe 

 that we can afford to disregard potash, if it becomes commer- 

 cially possible to use it. 



Bureau of Weights and Measures. 



The bureau of weights and measures was administered dur- 

 ing the first part of 1916 by E. A. Russ of Dexter, who acted 

 in that same capacity in 191 5. He proved to be an efficient 

 official, so far as the testing of weights and measures was con- 

 cerned, and worked harmoniously with the local sealers, but, 

 owing to an unfortunate character, he got to that place where 

 it was impossible to allow him to take the initiative without 

 first examining the ground myself. After a sufficient number 

 of trials I dismissed him and appointed in his place Percy C. 

 Edgecomb of Belfast, a former local sealer in that city, and a 

 man of high character, who fully understood the work before 

 he came to the department. Under his management I was 

 relieved from many of the minor duties of this office. 



Dairy Bureau. 



J. H. Blanchard of Auburn has done the work in this bureau 

 in 1916 the same as he did in 1915. His work has been not 

 only to speak before granges and breeders' meetings, but to 

 visit individual farms which, although very much slower in its 

 susceptibility, leads to many valuable suggestions to dairymen. 



Gypsy Moth Work. 



The Gypsy Moth work has been under the management of 

 E. J. Cady, field agent, Portland, during 1916 as it was in 191 5. 

 The breeding of parasites has advanced to such a stage and 

 the growth of the parasites has increased to such an extent 

 that not a single newly infested town was located in the state 

 during the year. In large portions of the State of Maine, the 



