lO Al'.KICrLTlRK OF MAINE. 



sioner of Agriculture, J. A. Roberts, Dr. Chas. D. Woods, 

 director of the Experiment Station at Orono, and Hon. W. A. 

 Martin of Houlton. This committee secured the results desired. 



Mr. A. K. Gardner, State Horticulturist, was sent to Aroos- 

 took county to have charge of the work. About 80 inspectors 

 were employed. To meet the expense of inspection, a fee of 

 $2.00 was placed on each car of potatoes shipped out of the 

 county. The inspection went into operation March 9th, and 

 continued until July 1st. Nearly 10,000 cars of potatoes were 

 shipped. Great credit is due Mr. Gardner for working out sat- 

 isfactorily a most difficult situation. 



On August 1st an embargo on Maine potatoes went into effect, 

 placed there by the Federal Horticultural Board. Congress 

 made an appropriation of $50,000 for inspection, which was 

 taken over by the Board, in whose hands the work has remained 

 to date. Reference is had to Mr. Gardner's report on subse- 

 quent pages of this report. 



BUREAU OF MARKETS. 



The work of this, Bureau has been continued during the year, 

 under Mr. C. E. Embree, who has labored unceasingly to edu- 

 cate farmers in better methods of marketing and purchasing 

 supplies and in organizing them so they can work in combi- 

 nation. Full details of the work may be found in Mr. Embree's 

 report, which is contained herein. I hope the incoming legis- 

 lature will see fit to continue the appropriation. In fact, it 

 ought to be increased so as to employ a second man. 



APPLE INSPECTION. 



The law providing for grading, packing and branding apples 

 has been carried out so far as this department was able to carry 

 it out with the limited funds at its disposal. Five inspectors 

 have been kept busy during the months of the largest amount 

 of shipping. This number is too small to cover all the state. 

 The work is in large measure educational and great good has 

 already resulted. With a larger appropriation the work can 

 be made more thorough and consequently more satisfactory. 

 Some minor changes in the law are advisable. 



