256 AGRICULTURE OF MAINK. 



pride and community interest. The College has co-operated 

 with these clubs by giving lectures and demonstrations and by 

 conducting correspondence courses with the members. 



Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Clubs: — The College of Agricul- 

 ture is co-operating with the State Department of Education 

 and the State Grange in the organization of boys" and girls' 

 agricultural clubs. Several clubs have been organized and the 

 prospect seems good for rapid development in the future. 



Annual Farmers' Week : — The annual Farmers' Week 

 course was instituted five years ago in response to a demand on 

 the part of the farmers of the State for a short course of practi- 

 cal instruction in agriculture for the benefit of those who could 

 not spare the time for taking longer courses, and it has become 

 one of the fixed extension courses given by the College. This 

 course has been enlarged from year to year and is now given 

 in three sections ; thus allowing those in attendance to specialize 

 to a considerable degree in the line of work taken. It is always 

 held during the first full week in March, beginning on the first 

 Monday evening of that month. During the last Annual Farm- 

 ers' Week there were four hundred people in attendance. The 

 feature of the course was the setting apart of certain days to 

 be devoted especially to important phases of animal and plant 

 husbandry. Sheep husbandry day attracted a large number of 

 people from various sections of the State. During the day a 

 special meeting of the ^Maine Sheep Breeders' Association was 

 held, presided over by the President of the Association. The 

 annual Farmers' ^^'eek has undoubtedly been the source of 

 great inspiration and encouragement to the farmers of Maine 

 and ought to be developed and made stronger each year. The 

 total number of lectures and demonstrations given during the 

 course were 80. 



Special Farming Train: — A special Farming Train was run 

 through Northern Maine over the lines of the Bangor & Aroos- 

 took Railroad from June i6th to 24th, inclusive. This train 

 was run under the direction of the Bangor & Aroostook Rail- 

 road, College of Agriculture, Maine Department of Agricul- 

 ture, and Maine State Grange. During the trip 30 dift'erent 

 towns were visited and 67 lectures and demonstrations given 

 to more than 8,000 people. The train was made up of three 

 baggage coaches, one flat car, and two passenger coaches. The 



