REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 9 



A new feature in this line of work introduced during the past 

 year was the holding of farmers' institutes in connection with 

 the Maine Farming Special train sent out from the University 

 of Maine, which made two trips in the state, one from April 

 23rd to May 5th, in Penobscot, Waldo, Piscataquis and Aroos- 

 took Counties, and the second, June 14 to 30, in Penobscot, Han- 

 cock, Washington, Waldo, Somerset, Kennebec, Franklin, 

 Androscoggin, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Knox 

 Counties. During the first trip 31 meetings were held, and 

 during the second, 43. At each one of the 74 stops made there 

 were assembled from loo to 1500 people. A careful count of 

 the number passing through the train at a number of places jus- 

 tified the estimate that fully 75,000 people visited the train in 

 the course of its three weeks on the road. A stop of two hours 

 or more was made on each occasion. The program followed 

 was to have two or three short talks given on subjects especially 

 applicable to the location. For instance, in a fruit growing 

 community special attention was given to horticulture, particu- 

 larly apple growing. In others, stress was laid upon the potato 

 crop and dairying ; and in still others, poultry interests and for- 

 estry were discussed. After the talks the visitors were invited 

 to ask questions of those in charge of the exhibits. One farmer 

 was heard to remark that his visit to the train would be worth 

 $500 to him during the present season. Other remarks of simt- 

 ilar nature showed the value of the exhibits and the explanation 

 given. Wherever the train made its last stop for the day, an 

 evening lecture was given, illustrated by stereopticon. Views 

 were shown which illustrated the history and development of the 

 College of Agriculture of the State University, particularly in 

 the growing of hay and greenhouse crops and illustrations of 

 animal types. 



The train consisted of three baggage cars fitted up as exhibi- 

 tion cars, and one coach for the convenience of the speakers and 

 exhibitors. The exhibits consisted of dairy machinery and 

 appliances, poultry houses, brooders and incubators, trap nests 

 and feed boxes ; brooders with live chickens, illustrating the 

 method of feeding ; miniature fields with growing plants, show- 

 ing the rotation of crops and soiling crops suitable for Maine ; 

 illustrations of orchard management, including various methods 

 of grafting and cures for diseases of trees. Methods of mixing 

 fertilizers at home were shown, as also illustrations in general 



