36 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



we raise, and no less important is it that we plant our best each 

 y^ar, selecting carefully that our best may become better, 

 until the people of some other town or country or state realize 

 that our varieties are more valuable than their own and send 

 their wise men here to buy of our seed. "Better Crops for 

 Maine" does not mean that one or two in a community shall 

 plant of their best. It means that every tiller of the soil who 

 shall put Steeds into the earth shall select himself the seed for 

 the next year's planting or shall purchase from his neighbor 

 who has a surplus. With our knowledge of culture and of 

 fertilization, with our natural opportunities of soil and climate, 

 with the planting of seed selected to fit our needs, we may adopt 

 the words of James Russell Lowell to Maine, "Earth is so 

 kindly there, tickle her with a hoe and she laughs with a har- 

 vest." 



This is the age of progression. Unless we go forward we 

 shall surely slip back. I believe the work so well begun on 

 modest areas the past year must continue, and that it will grow 

 and spread until it covers the whole field, and that as the work 

 develops so will the quality and yield of crops in Maine improve 

 and increase. 



In closing this report I wish to thank all who have so ably 

 assisted me in my work, particularly all the members of the 

 Department. Only the most harmonious relations have ex- 

 isted. It has been a pleasure to give you my best work the past 

 year. 



Respectfully submitted, 



C. R. LELAND, 

 Assistant Dairy Instructor. 



