440 agriculture of maine. 



farmers' week. 



Farmers* Week, in addition to being a short course in agri- 

 culture, is now recognized as one of the most important agri- 

 cultural events of the year, and hundreds of farmers come 

 annually from all sections of the state to attend the lectures 

 and demonstrations and to take part in the discussions. The 

 program which is being enlarged each year contained for the 

 last Farmers' Week more than one hundred lectures and demon- 

 strations, participated in by more than fifty speakers. The 

 teaching force was made up of college teachers, experts on 

 rural problems, experiment station experts, successful farmers, 

 and women experts on household problems. 



The fact that there were 375 persons in attendance attests 

 to its value in spreading agricultural truths and furnishing a 

 "get together" period for the people of the state. 



EXTENSION SERVICE. 



The Agricultural Extension Service at the University which 

 had a small beginning in 1902 has grown to great proportions. 

 Calls for help in solving agricultural problems are coming in 

 from all quarters of the state and the work is limited only by 

 a lack of funds. 



Function: The function of the College Extension Service is 

 something more than the mere promotion of agriculture ; it is 

 the organization and development of the industry. It deals 

 with the concrete. It aims not only to spread agricultural 

 truths but to set them at work. The Extension Service aims 

 to fulfil its purpose by giving instruction and practical demon- 

 strations in agriculture and home economics in the several com- 

 munities of the state to persons not attending or resident stu- 

 dents in the College of Agriculture. 



Organization: The Extension Service is organized on the 

 project plan and a detailed account of the several projects will 

 be noted below. The Extension force at the present time in 

 addition to clerical help consists of a Director, an Assistant 

 Director, Leader of Boys' Agricultural Club Work, Leader of 

 Girls' Agricultural Club Work, Instructor in Poultry Hus- 

 bandry, Agent in Charge of Farm Management Demonstrations, 

 and nine agents in charge of Farm Demonstration W^ork in 

 as many counties. In addition, the service is actively partici- 

 pated in by the entire faculty of the College of Agriculture and 



