Farm Bureau Work in New York State for 1914 2153 



It is a fact not commonly appreciated by many farmers that we already 

 have in the county varieties of oats, potatoes, com, and other farm crops, 

 that are equal to any that exist. The bureau is constantly urging farmers 

 to improve the varieties that they now have by seed selection rather 

 than to seek annually elsewhere for new and untried varieties of seed 

 recommended in the main by those who have something to sell. 



We note with satisfaction the growing interest in matters pertaining 

 to improvement in the breeding of live stock. Each year more and 

 more dairy farmers are following the simple practice of keeping records 

 of the milk produced by individual cows in their herds. This is one 

 of the most important lines of work that will lead to greater profits from 

 the dairy. It is accomplished in two ways: either by joining a cow-testing 

 association, or by purchasing a spring-balanced milk scale and recording 

 each day the milk produced by each cow. The yearly elimination of 

 from three to five of the poorest cows in each herd would mean the saving 

 of thousands of dollars to the dair^a^ien in this county. 



In close cooperation with the district school superintendents and with 

 the subordinate granges in the county, this bureau has continued its 

 work of encouraging farm boys to take a greater interest in the farm. 

 This includes our farm boys' acre com and potato club work. During 

 the past year we have registered nearly 200 boys, under 19 years of age, 

 in this work. This year 6 of the boys in the com contest made yields 

 averaging over 60 bushels of dried shelled com per acre. The largest 

 yield was 72 bushels per acre. In the potato contest one boy 15 years 

 old grew 364 bushels of potatoes in one acre. These boys will be the 

 farmers of the future. The value of this work cannot be overesti- 

 mated. 



There are many other phases of work that this bureau is encouraging 

 and promoting with a view to being of service to the farmers of the county 

 and to increasing agricultural welfare within the county. 



In conclusion, it should be clearly understood that if the farm bureau 

 is to attain its maximum usefulness, the work done by the manager of 

 the bureau must be very largely outlined and directed by the farmers 

 of the county. This direction can best be given through organized 

 channels. The Jefferson County Farm Bureau Association is the first 

 step toward this end. Every active farmer who is interested in the 

 betterment of agricultural conditions in Jefferson County should affiliate 

 with this association. 



F. E. Robertson, 

 Farm Bureau Manager of Jefcrsoyi County. 



MONROE COUNTY 



The work of the farm bureau in Monroe County has changed con- 

 siderably in character since my last annual report. During the first 

 year of the farm bureau most of the time of the manager was employed 

 in visiting individual farms, getting acquainted with the people, and 

 giving individual advice. Since that time there has been an increased 

 demand for the services of the bureau, and in order to reach many fruit 

 growers and general farmers in the county it was necessary to hold 

 demonstration meetings instead of trying to visit each farm separately. 



