Farm Bureau Work in New York State for 1914 2155 



further in 19 15, there will be from three to five men scattered over a 

 township, whose chairman is a member of the advisory council. It will 

 be the duty of each man to voice the needs of his committee. He will 

 feel greater interest in his community, and, if properly selected, can help 

 to increase the membership. 



A farm bureau bulletin will be issued beginning with the new year. 

 Although this will take considerable time, the manager can by this means 

 keep in closer touch with the members and they with each other. It will 

 also give something more to each member in return for his $1 member- 

 ship fee than to those who are not connected with the farm bureau but 

 yet have been able to attend all the meetings. 



Since Monroe County is one of the most progressive agricultural sections 

 of the State with communities where there are many expert growers 

 of apples, potatoes, beans, market garden truck, and the like, there is 

 difficulty in outlining any general policy for the farm bureau that will 

 apply to the whole county. However, a farm bureau, when once it 

 becomes established in one of the most progressive counties in the State, 

 can do much good. 



L. A. ToAN, 

 Farm Bureau Manager of Monroe County. 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY 



(Work begun March i, 19 14.) 



The first work consisted in studying the types of farming practiced 

 and the agricultural possibilities of the county, in explaining to the people 

 the functions of the farm bureau, and in arranging for cooperative work 

 with the farmers. 



The first demonstration work was given in the pruning and spraying 

 of several apple orchards. Each of these orchards served as an object 

 lesson for the people in that community. The results were all that could 

 be desired, and all the fruit found a quick sale in the local markets at the 

 highest market price. 



Information was given regarding the treatment of seed oats for smut. 

 A few farmers treated their seed oats with a solution of formaldehyde 

 before sowing, and they harvested a crop free from smut. Many of 

 their neighbors' oat fields, which were sowed with seed not treated, were 

 so full of smut that at threshing time the dust coming from the bam 

 looked like smoke from a newly started soft coal fire. The oats grown 

 from the treated seed also yielded more, and the straw was of better 

 quality. These demonstrations were so convincing that all the farmers 

 with whom I have talked regarding the matter state that they will not 

 sow oats next spring without giving the formaldehyde treatment. 



The farm bureau has encouraged the growing of alfalfa, as a farm 

 crop, to supply a feed high in protein and to allow the farmer to reduce 

 or eliminate some of his feed bills. All fields of alfalfa seeded in co- 

 operation with the bureau have gone into the winter in excellent con- 

 dition. 



When the farm bureau began work, the lowest price that could be 

 obtained on ground limestone for this county was $2 per ton, f. o. b. 



