Farm Bureau Work in New York tSxATE for 1914 2179 



assistance of the bureau in drainage projects. A large number of farmers 

 ha\'e requested the manager to visit their farms and give his approval 

 or disapproval of the practices in use. Quite likely these farmers will 

 not be visited until a definite piece of work demands the manager's at- 

 tention. 



The granges throughout the country are very friendly toward the 

 farm bureau and, like the btisiness and professional men of the town, 

 are in fa^'or of the work. 



Although much has been accomplished, there is much to be done be- 

 cause Ulster County was entirely new territon,^ for fann bureau work. 

 However, honest effort has been made, and the manager has employed 

 his time to the best of his knowledge. With this preparation, the farm 

 bureau work of Ulster County for the coming year ought to be decidedly 

 worth while. 



W. H. Hook, 

 Farm Bureau Manager of Ulster County. 



WYOMING COUNTY 



The following is a brief summar}^ of the work accomplished in Wyoming 

 County from March i, 19 14, when the writer succeeded W. H. Markham 

 as manager of the farm bureau, to Januar\- i, 191 5. 



Following the work of the institutes held in March in interesting farmers 

 in keeping individual records of dair\' cows, four cow-testing associations 

 were organized, aggregating 132 members and 2200 cows. These asso- 

 ciations are in successful operation under the direction of competent 

 men. They are controlled by strong local organizations made up of some 

 of the best men in the community. Much attention is being given to 

 balanced rations, and a considerable financial saving is the result. Ac- 

 cording to the reports of several members of the association, the reduction 

 in cost of maintenance amounts to several thousand dollars, while the 

 production of the herds has been increased. 



Recently a county breeders' association has been organized; it is made 

 up of some of the most successful breeders of pure-bred stock in the county. 

 No definite results from this as yet have been secured, but the aim is to 

 encourage the better breeding and the better marketing of pure-bred 

 stock. 



An orehardists' association has just been organized in Wyoming Valley 

 for the purpose of orchard improvement and cooperative marketing of 

 fruit. 



Considerable attention has been given in some localities to the develop- 

 ment of the idea of cooperative buying and selling and to the establish- 

 ment of storage facilities for farm products. It is hoped that there may 

 be successful organization along these lines. This covers the work ac- 

 complished and attempted in organization. 



The manager of the farm bureau has attended 66 meetings in the county, 

 and has spoken on agricultural subjects to audiences aggregating over 

 6000 persons. Twenty of these meetings were farm bureau meetings 

 called for specific purposes, and 23 were grange meetings. Of the farm 

 bureau meetings 3 were demonstrations, 2 in apple packing and i in the 

 control of bean diseases. At this meeting the suggestion was made 



