one acre; Crosby Clements, Kenduskeag, 76 bushels from half acre; E. N. Crane, Kenduskeag, 75 bushels from half acre.

For the fifty dollars offered, to be awarded in 1874, for farm improvements, we have eleven competitors.

T. P. BATCHELDER, Secretary.

PENOBSCOT AND AROOSTOOK UNION AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This Society held its Fair at Patten, on the 3d of October, 1872. It was better than usual, and fully successful. Stock was driven from a long distance, with small prospect of a premium. Many excellent oxen, steers, cows and heifers, horses and colts, and sheep, had to go home without, because all could not be best.

The breed of cattle in this vicinity has been much improved by a Durham bull, owned by Alfred Cushman, Esq., of Sherman, several years since; we now have many large and profitable cattle, the result of Mr. Cushman's effort. A three year old Durham heifer, of the Cushman stock, weighed this year, when dressed, 740 pounds; worth $60.

The late Ira Fish, Esq., of Patten, a few years since, purchased, in the Province, a full blood Leicester Buck and six full blood ewes these sheep average 6 to 8 pounds of wool each; they are large square, hardy animals; their lambs are large and strong. Several flocks of these excellent sheep were on exhibition; J. W. Leslie took the first premium, and J. Cunningham the second.

Crops this year were generally good; hay was abundant; wheat good. Alfred Cushman, Jr., raised 56 bushels on two acres, and 29 bushels on one acre; Edward Jay raised 31 bushels of wheat

on one acre.

Corn grew well and ripened before the frosts. James Palmer raised 44 bushels of ears on 39 rods.

Beans were excellent. Joseph Walker of Island Falls, raised 60 bushels of beans; Levi May 35 bushels; James E. Parker 91 Jessie Craig of Island Falls, raised 21 bushels on 140 rods; they were sown, on burnt land, broad cast, and harrowed in.

bushels on 41 rods;

The potato crop was good, though they rotted considerably. Daniel Randall, Esq., of Island Falls raised 252 bushels on one half acre; they were the "Prolific", a large white potato, good for the table.

The Exhibition at the Hall was a success. Apples, pears, and other fruit were abundant and excellent. The specimen of wheat, corn, potatoes, beans, and garden vegetables, showed that farming this year has been a success.

LUTHER ROGERS, Secretary.

PISCATAQUIS CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The severity of the winter of 1871-2, following the unusual dry season in which almost all crops were cut off, either by drought or grasshopper, made it almost unprecedented in the cost of wintering stock; a large portion of which came out in the spring of 1872 in rather poor condition to be profitable for the dairy, or to be fed for beef. Contrary to the expectations of all, grass came forward as early in the spring as usual, and even where no green thing was to be seen in the fall of 1871, pastures and fields have yielded abundantly. Is it on account of the remarkably heavy fall rains last year, or did the grasshoppers eat all the last year's crop, and leave the proceeds on the ground, for the benefit of the following crop p? Spring opened favorably, but about the time that the frost was fairly out of the ground, the rains commenced and continued so late that a large portion of the crops of this county were not in until June, and some even planted potatoes and sowed barley as late as the 20th, and at that time the land was too wet to be worked profitably. A larger area was planted to potatoes, than for some years past; but the continued wet season reduced the crop to less than 100 bushels to the acre, on an average, and but few getting more than that, and some even falling as low as 50, and badly decayed at that; must we not draw the inference that a cool dry season is the right one for potatoes? Grain crops have been good generally. Wheat better than for twenty years; corn better than average; but much late grain was damaged by wet weather in harvesting. Beans about an average. The hay crop (the "great staple) much better than could have been expected,

judging from the two seasons preceeding; those who commenced haying in season, intending to get their hay at the right time, were very successful, as there was about three weeks of good weather at that time, but all who waited for herdsgrass to blossom the second time had a considerable rain, and of course ripe hay, and not only that but black and smoky. The root crop has been almost as great a failure as the potato, and in many instances rutabagas have had the same disease that potatoes have; the leaves rusted in the same manner, and in harvesting, the tops of the roots were decayed, and many that appeared perfectly sound, have since decayed badly. (Query,- Will not all root crops be affected in the same way? and soon?)

The season has been a remarkably warm one, and an unprecedently wet one; the rains being so continual, and holding on so late that but little plowing is done for next year's crops, and if the theory is a correct one, we may look for many enemies in the ground next spring. Would it not be as well for farmers next spring to sow and plant a little, expressly for the worms?

The first snow of the season (about six inches) fell last night, November 29th, and the ground is frozen but little.

LUTHER CHAMBERLAIN, Secretary.

WEST PISCATAQUIS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY:

The Annual Exhibition of this Society was held at Monson, September 25th and 26th. The Show was as good as could be expected considering the unfavorable weather. The first day proved better than was feared and was devoted to the exhibition of town teams, draft and farm oxen and horses, drawing of oxen and horses, trained one year old steers and examination by committees.

The second day opened more forbidding than the first but did not rain to seriously interfere with the proceedings until near the close. This day was devoted to the exhibition of stallions, breeding mares, speed horses and colts; also trial of farm implements and report of committees. Two town teams were entered, one from Monson, the other from Howard Plantation. There was a

fair exhibition of oxen considering that many farmers have substituted horses for oxen in their farm operations. A good display of steers; a small show of cows and heifers, much too small I think when the importance of dairy products are considered.

Draft and farm horses were exhibited which would be difficult to beat and some very nice carriage horses and colts, stallions and breeding mares. No speed horses were exhibited.

Of sheep only a few bucks were presented, good of their kind. No entries of swine.

But a small lot of dairy products was exhibited but the quality was good.

A good array farm implements, including ploughs, harrows, cultivators, mowers and horse-rakes, graced the grounds. Household manufactures were spread around the hall in interesting variety which was also well sprinkled with fancy work of various descriptions. Fruit made a tempting display, being very abundant this year. About the usual amount of roots and garden vegetables were exhibited.

Of our great staple crop, grass, we had more than an average, entirely reversing the order of things from last year when we had much more stock than hay, now more hay than stock. Of wheat we have an increase over former years. Corn not quite an average; other grain crops about an average. Potatoes small and few in a hill.

The peculiarity of the season was the unprecedently wet autumn subjecting farmers to much inconvenience and some loss in the harvesting of crops. For some reason which I am not able to explain, our receipts from membership have fallen off very much compared with previous years.

Amount of premiums offered, $110.35; amount awarded, $69.60.

J. F. THOMS, Secretary.

SAGADAHOC COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Eighteenth Exhibition of this Society was held in Topsham October 8th to 11th, 1872, and was a grand success, both as to the numbers who visited the grounds and the amount of receipts taken, which was $2,064.75.

The show of horses, neat stock, and swine, was never better, and bespoke the thrift and enterprise of the stock raisers in the Society.

Of horses and colts, there was a very good Exhibition, showing marks of care and study in breeding, with an eye to service as well as speed.

In neat stock, the full blood Durhams, Devons, Ayshires, Hereford and Jerseys; these several grades were generally excellent animals. The town teams of oxen made a fine appearance, and no doubt, were as good for work as show.

The field crops were good, especially the specimens of Indian corn. Java and Lost Nation wheat, were plump, full, and heavy. Apples and poars were fine, of excellent quality and abundant. During the year the Society has built a substantial building on their grounds about 100 feet long, for a dining hall, at a cost of $850. This Society was never in a more prosperous condition than at present, and the members intend that their grounds shall be the best furnished and the most beautifully adorned of any in the State.

Amount of premiums offered, $996.25; amount of premiums awarded, $535.75.

STEPHEN PURINTON, Secretary.

SHAPLEIGH AND ACTON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Exhibition for the present year was held at Acton Corner, October 15th, 16th and 17th.

The first day was devoted to neat stock; the number of entries was large and the cattle exhibited were generally creditable.