46 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



ductive of results. If the experimenter— the farmer who tests 

 out plants — is able to demonstrate the value of improved seed 

 corn, oats, potatoes, etc., to fellow farmers of his community, 

 there will soon be developed a market for all the seed he is able 

 to grow and the neighboring farmers will have an actual demon- 

 stration of the value of pure standard seed. Instead of sending 

 money to other states for seeds Maine will be developing seed 

 farms within her own boundaries. By limiting this work to co- 

 operative tests on a few farms, it will be possible to secure 

 greater concentration of effort and quicker returns, or results. 

 Each farm can be inspected two or three times during the season 

 and a careful supervision of the work may be had, together with 

 complete data regarding growth, yield, etc. 



In addition to experimental work considerable effort must 

 be used in familiarizing farmers with the best methods and 

 practices of crop improvement, and also, with the ways and 

 means of marketing the same. By carrying on experiments as out- 

 lined above it will be possible to secure some valuable data 

 regarding crop production in this State and hence, being pro- 

 duced under conditions peculiar to this part of the country, the 

 results will be all the more valuable. A bulletin on seed im- 

 provement work for Maine farmers should be published this 

 spring and such a pamphlet ought to take up in detail the best 

 methods and practices in its plans for the improvement of 

 different farm crops. 



In addition to my duties as outlined in the foregoing para- 

 graphs I spent one week in attendance at the exhibits at Central 

 ]\Iaine Fair, Waterville, one week at Maine State Fair, Lewis- 

 ton, and two weeks in preparation of exhibits and in attendance 

 on the Northern Maine Farming Special. From this train I 

 delivered four lectures on seed and plant improvement. Also 

 I devoted five days' time to getting ready for shipment to the 

 U. S. Bureau of Standards the State of Maine standard weights 

 and measures and in quest of information relative to the work 

 of the sealer of weights and measures. Further time was de- 

 voted to institute work. 1 attended ten meetings with an attend- 

 ance of 533. 



I highly appreciate the assistance granted me by you and the 

 members of the Maine Department of Agriculture. 



Respectfully, 



C. W. BARBER. 



