Farm Bureau Work in New York State for 1914 2r73 



Through the farm bureau in cooperation with the six school superintend- 

 ents, about 125 boys were induced to plant 25 potatoes each, by the 

 tuber unit method. The farm bureau, through subscriptions from mem- 

 bers, was able to give a holstein bull calf and a trio of fowls as prizes in 

 a contest among the winners of the six districts. 



Field meetings have afforded excellent means of getting in touch with 

 members. Practically the same things were discussed at these meetings, 

 where from six to sixty men gathered, that were discussed when making 

 farm visits. The men seemed free to discuss their problems. The 18 

 meetings were held on farms where the growing of alfalfa, the growing 

 of vetch with oats, varietal tests of silage com, and the use of fertilizers 

 were being demonstrated. There were 340 men at these meetings. It 

 is the plan to double this phase of the work for 1915. 



The Cooperstown and the Springfield Cherry Valley Cow-Testing 

 Associations have been organized with 26 herds in each, with a total of 935 

 cows. The tester of the first-named association is a graduate of Morrisville, 

 and of the latter a graduate of Cornell ; both are Otsego County men. 



The local fair proved to be a convenient means of reaching farmers. 

 Fully 1000 persons learned that there was a farm bureau in the county if 

 they learned nothing more. The bureau had an exhibit at Cooperstown 

 and at Morris. The county supports five fairs, and I hope to use them 

 as far as possible next year. 



Orders have been placed for 348 tons of 16 per cent acid phosphate at 

 a saving of $1444 over the cash price on December 15. Orders are now 

 being taken by farm bureau committeemen for four more carloads. All 

 orders have been placed in the hands of a dealer, whenever it could be so 

 managed, who handled the money and unloaded the goods for which he 

 received 50 cents per ton, a price which was agreed on by the dealers. This 

 is the best method of purchasing that can be followed by a farm bureau. 

 It has been supported by the boards of trade for 1915. 



Perhaps, since this is a dairy cotmty, the work we have done that 

 should result with the most good to all is the organization of two breeders' 

 clubs, a holstein club and a guernsey club. The former has 39 charter 

 members who own 1025 pure-bred and 715 grade animals; the latter has 

 23 charter members. A cattle census has not yet been taken. The 

 members aim to improve the quality of cows throughout the county by 

 preaching and practicing the doctrine of community ownership of pure- 

 bred sires. Ten days ago two members of the holstein club for the 

 first time purchased a bull together, for which they paid $500, and his 

 record warrants the price. We believe the farm bureau exerted an in- 

 fluence in this purchase. These breeders' clubs are closely affiliated with 

 the farm bureau. The officers of each have been appointed members of 

 standing committees of the bureau. Article 3 of the constitution adopted 

 by the clubs reads as follows: 



This club shall be an auxiliary of the farm bureau and shall work in cooperation with 

 that association. Each member of the club shall be a member of the farm bureau in 

 order that the stenographer of that association may become the assistant secretary 

 of the club. Each member of the club will then be entitled to use the monthly sales 

 list and exchange of the farm bureau. It is the intention and the expectation of this 

 club at all times to work in conjunction with the holstein -friesian association. 



