Department of Horticulture. 529 



resulted from extensive planting and now they are but little grown. 

 Lima beans, string beans, and peas were not often reported, except in 

 the Orient section. It is said that many of tlie townspeople and summer 

 residents find difficulty in buying them even at city prices. More atten- 

 tion should be given to some of the crops mentioned not now extensively 

 grown. Success will often attend the farmer who will leave the beaten 

 track of common production and grow the crops for which there is an 

 unfilled demand. 



Seeds and plants. Local seedsmen and plantsmen were found to be 

 very few. They could undoubtedly do a paying business if they would 

 grow a high-grade product for home consumption, realizing that this 

 takes time, skill, study and intelligence. Long Island should grow its 

 own seeds and plants. 



The present demand for a strain of early potatoes that will produce 

 as well as did the old Early Ohio, which appears now to have run out, 

 is only one phase of this subject. A large profit could be made by a 

 skillful man who would breed a potato adapted to local use. The only 

 valid reason for the present practice of using Maine or Michigan seed 

 is that, so far as we can find, no thoroughly careful work has been done 

 with a direct view to local needs. Those interested in potato-breeding 

 either for their own use or as a commercial undertaking should read 

 Farmers' Reading-Course Bulletin, Series IX, No. 43, Methods of Breed- 

 ing and Improving the Potato Crop. Copies of this may be had on appli- 

 cation while the supply lasts. 



Purchasing supplies, (a) Town Clubs — The " town clubs " in present 

 operation are to be commended for purchasing and distributing farm 

 supplies at practically cost price. The Riverhead Town Agricultural 

 Society seems to have been especially active in this regard. Its regular 

 purchasing agent stated that in 1908 it had conducted for its members 

 a business of $100,000 in the co-operative buying of fertilizers, seeds, 

 etc. The club also holds active and well-attended meetings for discus- 

 sion of local problems. Such organizations do much to better the rural 

 conditions in their neighborhoods. There is room for more of them on 

 Long Island. It is urged that where sufficient interest can be developed 

 such clubs be formed. 



(b) The Grange — At Southold the local grange is an active and 

 efficient organization which has done much to help farmers through the 

 purchase of farm and household supplies. As a social factor in the com- 

 munity it is a decided success. 



