Page images
PDF
EPUB

had been neither negligent nor unthoughtful of his duty, he confessed that he had been unable to prepare anything upon this topic, satisfactory to himself, or which he thought would meet the expectations of the Board. He suggested that the committee be discharged from the consideration of the subject, and that pending the report of the business committee, it be discussed in committee of the whole, which suggestion was adopted, with the understanding that at this time also, members have leave to report on the condition and operations of the several societies for the past year, and regarding the position and prospects of agriculture in their various parts of the state.

Mr. Anderson had already got excused as a member of the committee, on the ground that he had nothing new to advance, but would remark, that he had presented the subject to the club of which he was a member, and many suggestions had been broached-such as the importation of best varieties of foreign stock; the establishment of a model farm; general instruction in agricultural chemistry; the employment of public lecturers to itinerate the state; the establishment of a paper under the auspices of the state, &c. Nothing definite came of the discussion, however, except a vote recommending the establishment of a library of agricultural and kindred works, under the control of the state society, to be loaned on call to local clubs and societies.

Mr. Russ of Franklin, was a member of the committee upon this subject, last year, but was unable to suggest anything of value. He would therefore speak of the condition of the society he represented. The society numbers four hundred members, have located the fair, fenced and graded the grounds, and erected thereon suitable buildings. The show last fall was superior to that of any former year. The society has purchased two full-blood Durham bulls at an expense of six hundred dollars, which did not prove so profitable an investment in all respects as was hoped for, many of the cows served by them proving farrow. Improvement was manifest in various kinds of stock and also in crops.

Mr. Wasson of Hancock, was a new member at this Board, and represented a society as yet in its infancy. He did not feel competent, at this stage of the session, to enter upon the discussion of the

topic under consideration, and preferred to speak of the condition and prospects of his society.

There has not until recently been any agricultural society in Hancock county for many years. In 1790 a society was formed, and flourished for a time, but it failed, and one of the principal causes of its failure was the impression that got abroad among the farmers, that the highest premiums could not go out of two families. The failure of this attempt left such a discouraging impression upon. the old farmers of that region, that no successful effort has been made until last year to establish another. When we moved to secure a new society, we could get but seven names on the petition; but we got our charter, and the first exhibition was a decided success. We had over four hundred animals on the ground. Our farmers are now turning their attention more to the raising of calves-and are becoming interested in all the various branches of practical husbandry. The habit of our people, hitherto, has been to fish a little, and lumber a little, and farm a very little; but the time has come when they must pay more attention to farming-or starve. Interest is increasing rapidly. Two years ago I had books for distribution, but nobody wanted them. The farmers would not take and carry · them home when given to them. Now, I cannot get enough to meet the demand. Persons have come thirty miles to get a copy of the report of our secretary. This year I have received one hundred books, and already I have three applicants to every book I have.

There is considerable attention given to the cultivation of the cranberry in our part of the state. A neighbor of mine had a heath where cranberries grow among the bushes. He simply took away the bushes, let in the light, and the result was a fine crop. In another case, sand was carted on at the rate of from six to eight loads to one-fourth of an acre. Another man started a patch on a salt marsh. He took a large variety of the cranberry, which grows on a bush about four feet high, with a bark like the dog-wood. is not so good as the low cranberry, though very palatable. The small are worth twice as much in the market as the large. This cranberry grows on the borders of our heath or bogs, which are found in large tracts, some of them containing a thousand acres, and when you go on them they shake a long distance around you. It is at the borders of these, near the solid ground that cranberries

It

grow. My neighbor took up a patch two rods square, cleared off the turf, and made beds a foot square, and in each of them put seeds and covered them with straw and they have done finely.

In reply to an inquiry of the secretary in regard to the use of marine manures in his section, he spoke of the application of a mixture of muck and eel-grass and rock-weed; also, the pogy-a fish caught in immense numbers on the coast for its oil, and afterwards used very successfully as a top-dressing to the soil. Crops have been much improved by mixing the pogy-chum with gravel and ploughing it in. It is a remarkable fact that the coarse wire-grass has given place to herds-grass by the use of the pogy-chum. The chum could formerly be obtained at twelve and one-half cents per barrel; but since its use as a manure, it has risen to one dollar per barrel. Mr. W. said the effect of muscle-bed manure also was very marked. In the winter of 1839 his father had a piece of clay land which grew nothing but white weed. He hauled on one hundred loads of muscle bed, which killed out the white weed, and herds grass came up profusely in its place. Nothing but herds grass has grown on the land since then until lately, when the white weed. again made its appearance. The ground was not seeded at all.

Mr. Dill of North Franklin, was not prepared to discuss the topic presented, but would speak of his society. Its condition is improving. Have not, as yet, been able to locate, although the subject is in agitation. Its geographical situation is not favorable to location. The notion among us that farming does not pay is nearly exploded. He cited several instances of successful farming. One man cleared twelve hundred dollars this year on his farm. Improvement is going on, not only in the farms, but among the people. They are waking up to their true interests.

Mr. D. presented the following statistics of exports from Franklin county, based upon an average of several years, as follows:

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Mr. Dill also accompanied the above statistics with explanatory remarks upon some of the items included in the list.

Mr. Flint said Somerset county received $150,000 per annum from sheep sold, without detriment to the flocks. The statistics of Mr. Dill were no doubt true; and yet that county is now half forest. The Dead river country is capable of producing as much as the whole county now does. The same is true of Somerset county. That whole section is a most inviting field to farmers, far in advance of the west.

Mr. Dill said there was no better land in the world.

Mr. True said that the way to send the people into the settling lands, is to call attention to the resources of the state. We all remember how this was effected by the labors of Dr. Holmes, some years ago, and more recently by the labors of our secretary. He had been surprised at some facts that had lately come to his knowledge in reference to the northern part of Oxford county.

Mr. Rice said that some years ago he went over that section and from that time to the present he has had no doubt that if a young man, about starting for California or the west, with four or five hundred dollars, would go in there, and suffer the same privations, he would do far better. The best part of Oxford county is today covered with forest. There is no better field than our own state presents. Every capability of the state should be brought out, and the northern part of Oxford is equal to any part of the state.

Mr. Hammatt of North Penobscot said his society had greatly revived the last year, and more interest was felt; they held a good show the past autumn which seems to have had much influence in awakening an interest in agricultnre.

Mr. Hammond of Piscataquis said that his society had increased the interest in farming-had enlarged their premiums. A new interest has been felt in procuring the reports of the secretary of this Board, and they had been under the necessity of requiring that the volumes be passed from family to family. There is increasing interest in sheep growing. South Downs have been introduced within the year to a limited extent.

There is excellent soil in Piscataquis, and of late the farmers by deep ploughing are reaping advantages beyond the past. One field of fifteen acres, badly exhausted was ploughed three inches deeper

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »