12 .AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Smith, Chairman of a Committee of Judges. The prize was 

 given Mrs. Edward ]\I. Lawrence of Lubec. This essay was 

 read at the meeting of the State Grange at Bangor in Decem- 

 ber and has been printed and distributed among the granges 

 of the state, with a recommendation that it be taken up for 

 discussion; and it was also distributed among all farmers' or- 

 ganizations in the state. 



The purpose of this work is to create a popular sentiment in 

 the state in favor of the cleaning up of roadsides of all bushes 

 and worthless trees and keeping them clean. We believe there 

 should be legislation compelling towns to do this. Such action 

 would reduce the cost of taking care of the brown-tail moths 

 very greatly. 



As a result of the letter sent out to the municipal officers, 

 the officers in very many towns have notified us that they have 

 cleaned up their highways of all wild cherry trees and dead and 

 worthless apple trees. We are aware that very many other 

 towns have taken no steps whatever to do this. 



WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



The Legislature of 191 1 passed a law making the Commis- 

 sioner of Agriculture the State Sealer of Weights and Meas- 

 ures. Under that law my predecessor purchased a new set of 

 standards and installed them in the State House. The Legis- 

 lature of 19 1 3 made an appropriation for carrying out the pur- 

 poses of the Act. Under it, Levi S. Pennell of Portland was 

 appointed Deputy Sealer and immediately entered upon the 

 work of the office. 



It was found that very many of the towns had no standards 

 whatever and many towns having standards were compelled to 

 buy new ones as the old ones had become worthless. 



As a result of the year's work, by far the greater portion of 

 the towns in this state have provided themselves with a good 

 set of standards. The(y had the same tested by the Deputy 

 Sealer and have entered upon the work of testing out scales 

 and weights and measures in their towns. 



Reference is had to Mr. Pennell's report for details of the 

 work. 



