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for stock, the true interest of the farmer. Now, instead of raising grass-seed for sale, as formerly, we sow our seed, and raise hay for our stock. The Devon is highly prized, as far as tested. So is the Durham and the Hereford. The county produces large numbers of fine horses. The sheep are very superior and the mutton excellent.

He presented some statistics of the crops in township letter C, in first range, lying next to the boundary line of New Brunswick, a few miles south of the Aroostook river. Two years ago last summer, this township was surveyed by the state, and at that time four men only had made a beginning in it. Last summer there were thirty who raised crops. Another season this number will be greatly increased by those who prepared their land last summer for their first crop. The amount of grain of all kinds was 12,754 bushels; of potatoes and turnips 3,521 bushels. This, at fifty cents per bushel, which is a very low figure, over 1,000 bushels being wheat and rye, would amount to $8,137.50. He believed that the crop in the township next season, will be one hundred per cent. greater than last season. There are one hundred good farming towns in the county which are capable of doing as well, and in a short time they will be peopled by the hardy and energetic sons of New England. For the encouragement of those who wish to settle in Aroostook, he would say, that there are several townships yet unoccupied, lying along the borders of the county adjoining New Brunswick, and that the state is anxious to give it to actual settlers, while the British are building a railroad along the boundary line which will serve the purposes of the settlers as well as if built (in the same place) at their own cost.

He spoke of one settler who commenced-a stranger and ignorant of the country-in June, 1856. He employed a man to clear forty-seven acres; the trees were felled and limbed, and in the summer of 1857 the land was burned. May 10, 1858, he sowed five and one-half bushels of wheat on five acres, which produced one hundred forty-three bushels. Oats, two thousand bushels on twenty-seven acres. Millet, ten bushels on one-half acre. Buckwheat, one hundred bushels on three acres. Rye, two hundred eight bushels on eight acres. Potatoes, two hundred bushels on one and a quarter acres. Rutabagas, four hundred bushels on two acres. His land, clearing, interest, labor, &c., cost $1,094. The whole

product is worth, at market valuation, $1,357.50. The net profit of the crop for last year, after paying all expenses, $263.50. He is perfectly satisfied with the place as his permanent home.

Mr. Cushman of Penobscot and Aroostook Union said, the society which I represent embraces a territory seventy-five miles in length; consequently, those at the extremes neither join the society or attend its fairs. During the short time our society has been in operation, its influence is very manifest. Improvement in the mode of cultivating Indian corn, the selection of seeds, the cultivation of fruits, and in neat stock, has been quite extensive. The past season, although most unfavorable by reason of severe drouth, excessive wet, and early frost, has produced some very good crops. They are reported of eighty-five bushels of corn, thirty-nine of wheat, twentyfive of rye, seventy-five of oats, seventy-two of buckwheat, over four hundred of potatoes, and nine hundred eighty of carrots, per acre. It is now demonstrated that fruit can be grown there as well as in other sections of the state. At our last fair about fifty varieties of apples were exhibited, well grown and matured. The smaller fruits flourish abundantly.

Improvement in neat stock is just begun. At our last fair were. two calves-one only four months old, weighing four hundred seventy pounds, and the other sixteen and one-half months old, weighing 1,300 pounds; and other good stock. Our farmers formerly raised large quantities of hay for lumbering purposes, but now see the evil of it, and are turning their attention to stock raising. Sheep are rapidly multiplying; and their large size and good condition show that the climate and soil are admirably adapted to them.

Buckwheat, though formerly neglected by many, is now considered the most valuable crop we have. It produces a large crop with very little labor. It is best sown as late as the middle of June; and for domestic fowl and fattening swine, it has no equal. It is common for pigs fattened upon it, to weigh when fifteen to eighteen months old, from four hundred to nearly six hundred pounds.

I have no means of producing statistics, as the gentleman from Franklin did; yet could I do it, the sale of hay, grain, live stock, beef and pork, would show an exportation of a very considerable

amount.

The following communication from Dr. Rogers, secretary of this society and resident in Patten was read:

"In consequence of the injury done to wheat by the rust and weevil in past years, the farmers in Patten have engaged more largely in growing oats. It is a surer crop and finds a ready market at a fair price. Rye yields a fair crop here and is a good substitute for wheat, when the rust and weevil destroy wheat.

Corn is a surer crop in this climate than wheat. I have raised good sound corn every year, with one or two exceptions, for the last ten years. The Dutton corn is the best variety. I think corn does best, planted on the same land, several years in succession. The land should be suitably manured each year. It should be planted as early as the twentieth of May, and unless there should be a heavy frost in August, which is seldom the case, it will get ripe. I think planting the hills near together, three feet between the rows and twenty inches between the hills, increases the crop.

Wheat in good years yields from fifteen to thirty-five bushels to the acre. Our farmers commonly raise wheat on burnt land. But it will grow well on ploughed land if well manured. I think wheat sown early in May, or in April if the season is favorable, is most likely to do well.

Mr. Jacob Frye of Patten, raised in 1857, 1,350 bushels of oats, worth in cash $675. Raised in 1858, 658 bushels of oats, worth in cash, $329.

Mr. Andrew McCourt of Patten, raised this year, 587 bushels of oats, worth in cash, $293.50.

Messrs. Samuel and William Waters of Patten, raised this year, 789 bushels of oats, worth in cash, $394.50. Also, 58 bushels of wheat, worth in cash, $87.

Mr. John R. Hammond of Patten, raised this year, 800 bushels of oats, worth in cash, $400.

Mr. William H. Hunt of Patten, raised this year, on eight acres of land, 400 bushels of oats, worth in cash, $200. Also, 60 bushels wheat, worth in cash, $90.

Mr. L. Rogers of Patten, raised this year, 371 bushels of oats, 53 bushels of rye, worth in cash, $228. Also, 20 bushels of corn, worth in cash, $30. Income of four cows, $109.

Mr. Samuel Wiggins raised on his farm in Patten, 38 bushels of wheat on one acre, on pasture land ploughed in June, and cross ploughed in the spring.

Mr. James B. Hill of Patten, raised 36 bushels of wheat on one acre of land ploughed in the spring and well manured.

For the oat crop, Mr. Frye ploughs in a crop of grass in June or July and lets it lay in furrow until the following spring, then harrows it with a heavy harrow, but does not cross plough.

Mr. Waters ploughs in a crop of grass in June or July, and cross ploughs in the fall. Land cultivated in this manner will yield from forty to fifty bushels of oats to the acre."

Mr. Dill mentioned the case of a farmer in Rangely, named Toothaker, who raised 1,400 bushels of grain, and 221 tons of hay, which paid him a profit of $1,200. He also called attention to the fact once before mentioned by him, of a piece of ground which was cropped with oats five years successively, the yield increasing from year to year from twenty to forty bushels to the acre.

Mr. Hammatt said we might mistake if we were guided by such statistics. He knew a man to raise fifteen successive crops of oats, but it would be hard to tell what was raised the last time. He ploughed in his stubble and used no manure. Towards the end the yield was not worth harvesting, and the land was ruined for grass. The idea that the productiveness of land thus treated increased instead of deteriorated, he believed was contrary to all experience. If it were true, farming could be carried on with very little labor or expense.

Mr. Dill said he called attention to this subject for the purpose of eliciting discussion. The ideas of Mr. H. were mainly in accordance with his own.

In case of the land above referred to, it was weedy and bushy, and he had no doubt that culture improved it. He had known of other places where, because the land was not properly subdued, people supposed it was ruined, when it was only not properly tilled.

Mr. Cushman said that oats were a very exhausting crop, and it was a fact generally understood, that grass will not catch after repeated cropping with oats. The plan was a ruinous one.

Mr. Davis of North Somerset agreed with the speakers on this point. He had known instances in his vicinity, where farmers had raised oats a few years, obtaining fair crops, but the land when seeded down would not catch, and all attempts to redeem it had been only partially successful. Oats should only be sowed on new

lands, or where the soil is highly manured, as for other crops. He mentioned a man whose land had run out by this method, but had been only partially reclaimed by hauling on muck and manure, the ruinous results being still apparent. Rotation of crops is the only true method.

The business committee reported a series of topics for consideration, which were assigned to committees, as follows:

No. 1. To what extent, and by what means can labor saving machinery and improved implements, be most advantageously introduced? Messrs. Chamberlain, Davis and Fuller.

No. 2. Is it as needful for farmers to educate themselves thoroughly in their calling, as for mechanics, physicians, merchants, or lawyers? If so, by what means can it best be accomplished? Messrs. True, Porter and Russ.

No. 3. Ought farmers to hope for success without such constant and undivided attention as warrants the hope of success in other branches of business? Messrs. Anderson, Hammond and Stackpole.

No. 4. Is it advisable to urge the completion of the geological and agricultural survey of the state? Messrs. Wasson, Cushman and Dill.

No. 5. Is there need of fences other than to enclose pasture lands? Messrs. Flint, Lancaster and Chamberlain.

No. 6. What crop, if any, in our climate and system of husbandry can be made to yield similar advantages to those derived from the turnip in England? Messrs. Hammatt, Noyes and Anderson.

No. 7. Ought the Board of Agriculture to be empowered by law to fix the times of holding the shows of agricultural societies? Messrs. Rice, Drummond and Bailey.

No. 8. What proportion of the funds of agricultural societies, if any, should be expended in promoting general farm improvements? Messrs. Dill, Goodale and Stevens.

No. 9. What books may we best recommend to agricultural societies to be given in premiums? Messrs. Goodale, Avery and Noyes.

No. 10. Is it expedient that the Board of Agriculture at this session recommend the breeds of stock, horses, neat cattle, sheep and swine, most profitable to be bred and raised by the farmers of Maine? Messrs. Hammond, Palmer and True.

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