when compared with that of other years; but in this we have been. happily disappointed. Indeed, it was remarked by many that this department had never been so well represented as on this occasion. Had we been commissioned to collect together a quantity of vegetables of equal excellence, on such a season as this, we should not have sought for them until we had traversed many degrees of latitude, south of 431. If farmers can raise such mammoth beets, carrots, &c., in such a summer as this, what might they not do when the season favored their efforts? It may be well to remark to competitors that this committee is entrusted with no discretionary power, and we deem it our duty to confine ourselves strictly to the rules of the society; so that many articles for which we would gladly award premiums can only receive a passing notice." Competition for crops was not large. Among the statements we find that E. B. Randall of Limington, raised 49 bushels oats on 150 square rods; 31 bushels barley on 135 square rods. M. S. Milliken's statement on a premium corn crop, is as follows: "In the spring of 1858, I plowed a lot of land 35 rods long and 7 wide, making 1 acre and 85 rods of new land and planted to potatoes, with a very little manure. Then in the spring of 1859 cross plowed and harrowed the same, then carted on 8 cords manure and spread broadcast, then plowed and harrowed again, then furrowed about 3 feet apart, then carted 7 cords more manure on and manured in the hill. The manure was one part horse, one muck, two sawdust from the beach. I planted it to corn and beans, then hoed twice. This fall I harvested 8 bushels and 6 quarts beans, and 161 bushels of sound corn and 8 bushels green corn. CR. $9 00 manure, 6 00 Sold corn fodder in the field for $10 00 12 30 CUMBERLAND COUNTY SOCIETY. The twenty-ninth Annual Exhibition of the Cumberland County Agricultural and Horticultural Society was held in Gorham, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the 19th, 20th and 21st of Oct., 1859. The Secretary says: The show of cattle, horses, sheep and swine, was on Wednesday, and was the largest in extent and in variety of the different kinds ever got up in the county, embracing many pure blooded animals of the Devon, Durham, Hereford and Jersey breeds; the number of heads of neat stock, was 412, entered by one hundred and twelve competitors. Of horses, there were 84 entered for premium. The sheep and swine were more numerous than on former occasions. The show, both as to numbers and quality, showed a marked improvement over last year. The exhibition of manufactured articles, farm produce, &c., was in the town hall; it was opened to the public, Wednesday afternoon and continued open until Friday evening. The large hall was well filled. The show of fruit was quite large-that of grapes, was the best ever shown at our annual fair. The whole number of entries was 401-a larger number than before. The Annual Address was delivered by JOHN NEAL, Esq., of Portland, Wednesday evening, to a very large audience. Some of the premiums were as follows: LIVE STOCK. Stallions. Nicholas Rideout, New Gloucester, for Paragon," weight 1250 pounds, 5 years old, first premium. "Young One was William Lawrence, for Boston Morgan," second premium. Several young horses were very fine in appearance. presented by G. and L. P. Warren; and one by William Lawrence, the "Fire Fly Morgan;" and another, by E. Moses, the "Gray Paragon"-a fine made up colt, but deficient in size. None of the stock, however, of these young horses were presented. Mares and Colts. E. Huston, Gray, for best breeding mare. James Phinney, Gorham, for second best breeding mare. Stephen Hinkley, Gorham, for best 4 years old colt. G. and L. P. Warren, Westbrook, for second best four years old colt. J. Sanborn, Standish, for best 3 years old colt. Charles Hunnewell, Windham, second best do. years old. J. F. Anderson, Windham, best Devon, 3 years old; also 2 years old, and calf. Cows. J. Sturdivant, Cumberland, for best Durham cow. Robert Barbour, Gorham, second best. J. F. Anderson, Windham, for best Devon cow; also, for second G. W. Hammond, for a nice Alderney cow. Sheep and Swine. Otis Varney, Windham, for best Native buck. B. R. Sturgis, Gorham, for best buck of improved blood, Lei cester. Lendall B. Lowell, Gorham, for second best, do. do., Southdown. James Phinney, Jr., Gorham, for best ewes not less than five in number. J. F. Anderson, Windham, second best, do. do. do. F. O. Henley, Saccarappa, for best boar, Suffolk. A. McLellan, Gorham, for best fat hog, and the second premium on boars. Reform School, for best breeding sow, a superior grade Suffolk and Berkshire, having a litter of ten pigs by her side, and in the same cart a sow from one of her previous litters which had eight pigs, all remarkably good. Charles Hunnewell, Windham, for second best breeding sow. John Reed, Westbrook, for most satisfactory statement in feeding swine. Dominicus Frost, Gorham, second, do. Having thus awarded the premiums, your committee feel it to be incumbent upon them to admonish exhibitors against the prevailing practice of claiming for their animals an infusion of blood which, if in them, does not appear to an observer. We would, for example, instance a fine flock of sheep entered, at this show, as grade South Downs, which throughout presented perfectly white legs, white and smooth faces, and the buck having horns: whereas it is well established, that South Downs are entirely destitute of horns; that their faces and legs are of a dusky gray, sometimes very dark; that their bodies are closely covered with quite short and curly wool, which comes well forward in a tuft upon the head; and besides these differences, their bodies are broad, symmetrical, and have remarkably full development of the hind quarters. Again. In the swine department, there were three entries this year, of grade Berkshire; one being from the Reform School, about the blood of which, there could be no question, as they evidenced the truth of the statement made in regard to them; but the other two exhibited no such evidence, being entirely white in color; while the Berkshire varies from reddish brown to almost black, sometimes brown, black, and white, spotted, and sometimes black broken with white, but never pure white. Your committee do not deny that there may have been some South Down blood in the sheep referred to above, and Berkshire in the swine. But it was not apparent, and they consider it their duty to suggest, that exhibitors at all future shows, shall only name such animals "grades" as show in themselves signs of relationship to the blood claimed. Prompted by the desire of correcting an abuse of terms productive of unnecessary confusion with regard to two classes of animals which are second to none in value and importance, these remarks are offered in a spirit of kindness. It is hoped they will not be deemed impertinent. In conclusion. We desire to repeat advice often given unheeded, "that farmers keep fewer dogs and more sheep and hogs," and propose a question for the earnest thought of those who regard the general good. Would it not be better for the State, if every farmer was allowed a certain number of sheep exempt from taxation,rather than, as now, the sheep-killing dogs? which infest the country, and in all the State devour and destroy, annually, more than $100,000 worth of property, and within our households deal out fleas continually, and hydrophobia occasionally. In all seriousness we ask our brother farmers, ought not the man who keeps a dog, to pay a tax upon him, rather than upon a sheep, or twenty of them? Would not such a change in the assessment of taxes be the means of increasing greatly the number of sheep, and result in a great increase to the wealth of our State? GRAIN AND Vegetables. The Committee on Grain and Vegetables submit the following report: Indian Corn. Although the present season has not been favorable to the growth of corn, June having been wet and cold, retarding its early growth and making it late upon wet land; a pretty sharp drought having occurred in the latter days of July and up to the 25th of August, very nearly ruining that growing upon sandy, dry soil; and a severe frost having put a termination to the corn season in most localities on the 15th of September; yet some favored places, aided by skillful cultivation, have produced crops of which the cultvators themselves, our county and State, need not feel ashamed. The quality of the samples on exhibition were all good, and some of them were excellent, full and well ripened. They were mostly of the eight-rowed varieties; and we would here remark, that, in a climate like our own, where the seasons are so short, it is very desirable to select for cultivation early ripening varieties, having small cobs which will have lost their succulency by the time the kernel has acquired that hardness which fits it for the crib; as there is danger of loss by mold if the cob is not well dried before cribbing. There were seven entries made, only four of which were accompanied with the necessary statements of cost, method of cultivation, &c., as required by Statute; and one of these, viz: that of Mr. Shaw of Standish, though very full and satisfactory, lacked the certificate of oath, which is required by the rules of the Society. The competition, therefore, was between Amos Boulter of Standish, to whom we award the first premium; Coleman Harding of |