28 agriculture; of maine. 



I have spoken at many meetings upon subjects allied to good 

 crops; at grange meetings, dairy association meetings, field 

 meetings and institutes. The subject of Improved Seed has 

 held the close attention of the audiences, showing that the need 

 of a better grade of seed for planting is recognized by the 

 thinking portion of our farmers. 



Owing to removal from the State of W. L. Slate, secretary 

 of the Maine Seed Improvement Association, I was appointed 

 by the executive committee in September to fill out Prof. 

 Slate's unexpired term of office. The work of secretary of 

 this association is very important and much of my time since 

 September has been taken up by the necessary duties of the 

 office. 



I should consider this report incomplete without mention of 

 the annualmeeting of the Maine Seed Improvement Association 

 held at Lewiston in connection with the Maine Dairymen's Asso- 

 ciation. In the opinion of many who have followed the work 

 of the association this is by far the most important and success- 

 ful meeting ever held by it. The exhibit was of excellent 

 quality and large in size, notwithstanding the severity and 

 difficulties of the season. The exhibitors were one and all 

 enthusiastic. They proved to the satisfaction of all who saw 

 the exhibit at Lewiston that it is possible by a wise and careful 

 selection of seeds, aided by thorough and complete cultivation, 

 ■ to secure, in any year, a crop which will yield satisfactory finan- 

 cial return. 



In this report of work done should also be included a men- 

 tion of the Dinsmore-Kendall corn contest. In this contest, 

 Thomas Dinsmore of China, Maine and W. B. Kendall of Bow- 

 doinham offered prizes aggregating $150, to the farmers in 

 Maine who should produce the largest amount of shelled corn 

 per acre, over 100 bushels. Twenty-four contestants entered 

 but owing to the difficulties of the season a large number of 

 these withdrew before the completion of the competition. It 

 is with pleasure that we record the yield of over 100 bushels 

 shelled corn from two measured acres. Miss N. C. Burleigh of 

 Vassalboro and Geo. C. Crocker of Manchester secured respec- 

 tively 1 19. 1 bu. and 107.6 bu. from one measured acre. 



I hope the prizes may again be oflFered in 19 14 as we believe 

 buch contests are of value, not only for the pecuniary aid re- 



