DAIRY AND SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETINGS. 1/5 



and the seed interests Avere placed in charge of the State 

 Dairy Instructor and an assistant was employed to carry on 

 the work of seed and plant improvement. 



We have tried to work with all who have asked for help. We 

 have inspected sixty farms ; twenty-seven of these we have 

 visited twice, and several, three times. Good work has been 

 done by most of the men visited. 



One line of crop improvement work which has been carried 

 on by the Department is worthy of special mention. Last win- 

 ter Mr. Thomas Dinsmore of China, Maine, offered a prize of 

 $100.00 with the object in view of increasing the interest m 

 growing our yellow flint corn. The prize was to go to the 

 person who would raise the largest amount of shelled corn, 

 over one hundred bushels, on one acre. Later, Mr. W. B. 

 Kendall of Bowdoinham, offered an additional prize of $25.00 

 and a further prize of $25.00 if the winning acre should be 

 grown upon Sagadahoc Fertilizer, 



The final reports have not all been returned to the office, but 

 three of the contestants have already reported yields of over 

 100 bushels shelled corn, and several others were very close 

 to TOO bushels. These yields, in a year so unseasonable as the 

 past, are very encouraging and should induce more of our 

 farmers to grow com. 



The greatest criticism which I am able to make on the 

 methods which we follow as growers, is one which I know ^o 

 be true. From my own experience as a farmer, I know we do 

 not pay sufficient attention to the preparation of the seed bed, 

 nor do we follow the best methods of fertilization and cultiva- 

 tion of our crops. 



The past two seasons have been a test of a man's ability as 

 a farmer, and the one who has followed the teachings of our 

 most practical and successful farmers, is the man who has 

 seed which is of sufficient quality to be worthy of reproduction. 



The greater part of the men who have been working with us 

 have good seed, which will sell at an advance over the market 

 price. There is a great call for native seed by men who desire 

 to grow better crops but do not know where to find first class 

 seed. 



To bring the buyer and seller together, the Department of 

 Agriculture intends to publish a catalogue of seed which may 

 be recommended as being true to name, healthy, vigorous and 



