REPORT Of THE COMMISSIONER. 11 



more aware of the valuable information which may be secured 

 for the asking. In reviewing the results of a cow census 

 taken in some of our neighboring states, it is surprising to note 

 how closely the profits of the herd have corresponded with the 

 reading of dairy literature on the part of the owner. The suc- 

 cess of the farmer is dependent to a larger degree than is some- 

 times realized on the amount of intelligent information which 

 he possesses, and the closeness with which he keeps in touch 

 with the improved methods in agriculture which are discussed 

 in the best agricultural publications. It is an encouraging sign 

 for our agriculture that farmers are taking more interest in these 

 lines. 



The quarterly bulletins published, which have averaged 30 

 pages, have contained articles by the best authorities on the 

 subjects treated, expert scientific men and practical farmers, and 

 much pains have been taken to make them of practical value to 

 the farmers. No. i treated on The Gipsy Moth in Maine ; No. 

 2, The Management and Application of Farm and Commercial 

 Manures ; No. 3, Potato Culture ; No. 4, Swine Growing. 



Circulars in relation to insect pests have also been issued dur- 

 ing the year by the State Entomologist. 



AGRICUIvTURAIv EDUCATION. 



The Department of Agriculture is still working in the direc- 

 tion of more education in agriculture in the public schools of 

 our State. We fully believe in the advantages of an extensive 

 general education. It makes broader and better citizens ; it 

 creates loftier and noblier ideals ; it trains the mind to logical' 

 and systematic thinking; it develops the reasoning powers. 

 And there is no man who needs a broader, more liberal education 

 than the farmer. The problems which he is called upon to solve 

 cover a wide range of thought, and require a trained, alert mind 

 for their solution. If agriculture in its diversified forms is the 

 basis upon which progress and prosperity must stand, it is essen- 

 tial that the farmer should have the broadest of educations. 

 But in addition to this public education, we have always been 

 of the opinion that a special training in agriculture is a very 

 important matter, and that, to be efficient, it must begin in the 

 early days of school life. There is no addition to our school- 



