No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 63 



raiikiug, as she does, second amongst all the States of the Union in 

 population, first in the niauul'acture of iron, first in the production of 

 oil, first iu the amount of coal mined, while in the value of her agricul- 

 tural products, such as wheat, corn, oats, hay, potatoes, horses, cows, 

 swine and sheep, our State stands well to the front. It only requires 

 a citation of these figures to prove the importance of the institute as 

 an educational factor in equipping the farmer with scientific knowl- 

 edge and acquainting him with the most improved methods employed 

 in all lines of farm work. And the time is fast approaching when 

 the farmer will fully realize the importance of utilizing the natural 

 resources afforded him in I'ennsylvania for the developing, to a 

 greater extent, that time-honored line of animal industry — sheep hus- 

 bandry. The vast verdue-covered mountains and steep hill sides, 

 upon which the grasses grow luxuriantly, great bodies of which can 

 be purchased at a moderate price, offer unexcelled inducements as a 

 business venture. And these lands, too, are within a few hours ride 

 of cities and centers of population, thus affording the advantage of 

 home market, thereby eliminating largely the expense of transporta- 

 tion and cost of marketing. Attention is called to this situation, in . 

 the hope of encouraging, what in all ages has been the most profitable 

 line of animal industry, but in Pennsylvania, at present, seems to be 

 more neglected than all others. 



Of the many problems confronting agriculture, probably no one is 

 more difficult of solution than that of the procuring of efficient farm 

 help. Great numbers of farmers' sons have been induced to leave 

 the farm for what seemed to offer more remunerative reward for 

 labor in manufacturing industries, business enterprises, etc., thereby 

 causing much anxiety and close application on many farms, together 

 with long hours of labor on the part of those remaining on the farm 

 in order to properly cultivate the fields and safely store the crops. 



Whilst traveling through the State during the harvest time, it was 

 not unusual to see the farmers' daughters out in the harvest field, 

 driving the binder and mowing machine and building loads of hay and 

 grain. Thus the queens of the country home have demonstrated 

 their sterling worth, and that to be useful in life should always ac- 

 company refinement and culture. The farm labor problem is very 

 much relieved by the use of machinery. Such improvement has been 

 made in this direction that the power of one man is greater than that 

 of four men twenty years ago. The progressive and practical farmer 

 is rapidly learning to so adjust his operations as to convenience of 

 buildings, water supply and kindred surroundings, in order to econo- 

 mize labor and reduce to a minimum the waste in feeding stuffs; also 

 the successful handling of manures made at the farmer's barn. 



Some years since a careful investigation was made of the waste 



