Farm Bureau Work in New York State for 1914 . 2 131 



agency of the farm bureau, a definite program of work has been carried 

 out. This has consisted of apple growers' association meetings, orchard 

 field meetings of apple growers, visits to individual orchards by the farm 

 bureau manager and fruit specialists, a meeting to explain the new apple 

 grading and packing law, a county apple show, and the distribution 

 of information on the purchase of supplies. This w^ork is enlisting the 

 cooperation of about one hundred men in the county. About thirty 

 orchards were sprayed for the first time during this year. The quality 

 of finit coming to the cities of Jamestow^n and Dunkirk has been greatly 

 improved. The amount of barreled apples shipped from the county 

 has largely increased, and many fanns have become more profitable 

 through this new source of income. One of the plans that has met with 

 encouragement among the growers is the observation trip. Visits to 

 the best-managed orchards in the county have proved very interesting 

 and profitable. 



Perhaps of second importance in actual results has been the pvirchasing 

 service given by the bureau. By securing information on comparati\^e 

 freight rates and quality and prices of commodities, the farm bureau 

 has been of actual money value to the county. The purchase of drain 

 tile, apple barrels, seeds, and lime have been given most careful attention. 

 It is impossible to estimate the amount of money that has been saved 

 to the farmers of the county, but it has certainly been considerable. In 

 the purchase of lime the bureau has perhaps rendered its greatest service 

 in this field. The amount of lime used is very largely increasing, and 

 we should keep the price of this essential commodity as low as possible. 

 The farm bureau is cooperating w'ith the farm bureaus of Cattaraugus 

 and Allegany Counties, in order to secure the continuance of minimum 

 freight rates. 



By the issuing of a monthly list of live stock for sale, a definite service 

 has been given to the farmers interested in that subject. This list w^as 

 first issued in April. It will promote a better knowledge of the pure- 

 bred stock that is available within the county, and we hope that l^y 

 making it easy to locate pure-bred animals, it may supplement the prop- 

 aganda work done by the farm bureau, the farmers' institutes, and 

 the farm demonstration schools, in increasing the ntmibcr of pure-bred 

 sires at the head of herds. 



Of value to many individuals have been the different fomis of service, 

 such as laying out drainage systems, suggestions on crop rotations and 

 the laying out of fields, miscellaneous information on crops, feeds, and 

 many other subjects. 



Of lesser importance has been the work of introducing new crops. 

 Progress with alfalfa is ver^^ slow. The bureau has called attention at 

 various times to a few very successful growers of alfalfa, and is working 

 with eight or ten men to secure stands. 



Trials of hairy vetch as a hay crop are being made by the bureau in 

 cooperation with farmers in several parts of the county. Results of these 

 trials will not be available until next year. It is hoped that this hardy 

 legume wnll prove itself valuable as a gwpplementary hay crop in thg 

 gouthem part of the county, .••'"'? 



