2 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



left in the hands of the several agricultural societies, the purpose for 

 which the same shall be expended being subject to the approval of 

 till' local member of the Board. 



On motion of i\I. C. Fernald, a committee consisting of M. C. 

 Fernald, W. W. Harris, E. W. Stetson, was raised for the purpose of 

 taking into consideration the matter of crop statistics, with instructions 

 to rei)ort before the close of the session. This committee subse- 

 quently reported the following pi-eamble and resolution : 



Wherkas, The forecasting of crops has proved serviceable in the 

 States where such system has been adopted, and 



Whkrkas, Early and reliable statistics of agricultural products 

 furnish information of great value to farmers, therefore 



Resolved, That this Board hereb}- instructs its Secretary to adopt 

 a system of crop forecasts, and of gathering earh' and trustworthy' 

 statistics of faiai products, and to disseminate the information thus 

 aained bv bulletins or otherwise among the farmers of the State. 



The report was accepted and the resolution adopted. 



The meml>er from Kennebec presented the following, which after 

 a full and free discussion received the unanimous support of the 

 Board. 



Resolved, That the establishment of an experiment station at the 

 State College at Orono, for the analysis of fertilizers and of stock 

 feeds, and the testing of the pnrit}' and vitality of seeds is in the 

 estimation of this Board a movement in the direction of the best 

 interests of the State. 



A committee consisting of W. W. Harris, W. H. Pearson, E. W. 

 Stetson, was raised to introduce the matter to the people and present 

 the same to the Legislature at its next session. 



The member from Cumberland presented the following : 



Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board there should be a law 

 enacted requiring sellers and retailers of oleomargarine and all forms 

 of adulterated butter to plainly label every package or parcel sold 

 with its true name, and imposing a fine for violating the same. 



This was given a passage and referred to the committee on expei'i- 

 ment station for presentation to the next Legislature. 



The member from Kennebec presented the following : 



Resolved, That in the judgment of this Board the cominon farmers 

 of Maine should await the results of experiments now in progress 

 on the ensilage of corn and other forage crops before adoi)ting the 

 system on a scale involving any considerable expense. Adopted. 



