8 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



The most successful dairymen advocate that the waste products 

 of the dairy can be utilized in no way so profitably as in connec- 

 tion with the raising of pork. Pork has been so high during the 

 entire year that farmers who have given this branch of husbandry 

 proper attention have classed it with the most remunerative 

 branches of farming. Dairying and pork raising combined tend 

 to largely increase the fertility of the farm and thereby increase 

 its output. The largest profits from dairying are realized only 

 when the waste products are utilized in the raising of pork. 



farmer's institutes. 



Farmers' institutes have been held during the past year in 

 every county, as the law directs. In the majority of cases these 

 have been largely attended and much interest has been mani- 

 fested. The principal subjects which have been discussed are 

 Dairying, Orcharding, Swine Raising, Sheep Husbandry, Beef 

 Production, Poultry Growing, Hay Production, Potato Culture, 

 Horse Breeding and General Farming. The speakers from out- 

 side the State have been Prof. J. L. Hills, director of the Vermont 

 Experiment Station, Burlington, Vt. ; Prof. J. W. Sanborn, 

 Gilmanton, N. H. ; W. A. Shaw, Northfield, Vt. ; Forest Henry, 

 Dover, Minn. ; John W. Clark, North Hadley, Mass. ; Dana H. 

 Morse, Randolph, Vt. ; L. B. Harris, Lyndonville, Vt., and 

 T. L. Kinney, South Hero, Vt. The institutes have been largely 

 advanced by the speakers within our own State. Our practical 

 farm workers and writers have taken a large part in these meet- 

 ings, giving them the benefit of their personal knowledge and 

 successful experience. 



Some one has said, "The institute is the farmers' college." 

 During the past year we have endeavored to secure for our insti- 

 tute workers men who are thoroughly informed on the subjects 

 which they treat, who have devoted a long time to institute work 

 and are able to discuss these questions in all their phases. And, 

 believing that the institutes are intended not only to disseminate 

 information but to inspire courage and hope, we have also kept 

 in mind the idea that these speakers should be practical men, men 

 who have been successful in their farming, and who can present 

 these questions with such force and energy as to awaken enthu- 

 siasm in the farmers to a larger degree than ever before. It is 



