10 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Sept., 



Capitol, Hartford,, October 1st, 1918. 



The State Board of Agriculture has completed its fiscal 

 year and through its Secretary submits its fiftieth annual re- 

 port. 



The most critically inclined must admit that the Board is 

 truly representative of the several lines of agriculture in the 

 state. The members of the Board are those who are leaders 

 in their several lines of agricultural work and represent the 

 farmers who are interested in the production and sale of 

 milk, both wholesale and retail; the tobacco industry; poul- 

 try husbandry; the raising of corn, both field and sweet for 

 seed and farm use; fruit raising; beekeeping and swine hus- 

 bandry and two members of the Board are interested in the 

 rearing of sheep as well. Thus the advice and counsel given 

 so freely in reply to both the personal and written recjuests 

 lor information and assistance, come from those Avho are en- 

 gaged in the same line of agricultural w^ork and are thinking 

 about the same things and who are themselves a success in 

 their farm operations. 



AMien the President of the United States told Xew Eng- 

 land that the war could not be won by guns and submarines 

 alone, but that the side that could feed itself the longest 

 vv'ould win and that New England should raise food enough 

 for her own people so that the surplus farm products of our 

 c ther states could be shipped to our Allies, Xew England re- 

 sponded and Connecticut has nobly done its part. Our 

 farmers responded 1)y increasing their acreages, by better 

 methods of cultivation and by increased hours of labor. 

 Every nerve has been strained and everything in their power 

 done to bring al)OUt the desired result, and this without a 

 thought as to whether they would receive a price for their prod- 

 ucts equal to a cost-plus-a-profit price for the same or not. No 

 one but the farmer himself can know the sacrifices which 

 have so freely been made by him to respond to his country's 

 call. In the reconstruction period which must come at the 

 close of the war and in getting back to normal times the 

 rights of the farmer must be recognized as they have not been 

 before if our country is to prosper by a system of permanent 



