SECRETARY'S REPORT. 63 



Besolved, That we recommend the offering of liberal premiums 

 for the best conducted experiments in the culture of wheat and 

 corn. 



Whereas, it is the opinion of the Board, that the root crops have 

 not received that attention, in the " mixed husbandry" prevalent 

 in the State, that their value and importance demand ; and whereas, 

 it has been demonstrated that the art of agriculture in its highest 

 condition deals very largely in these crops ; and whereas, it is 

 desirable that when change shall be effected in our practice, it shall 

 be such that an increase in the fertility of our soils shall legiti- 

 mately follow ; therefore 



Resolved, That we recommend to the societies to offer increased 

 premiums for the best conducted experiments in the culture of 

 potatoes, carrots, mangolds, parsnips and turnips. 



Resolved, That the several Agricultural Societies he directed to 

 offer not less than one-fourth of the State bounty annually received 

 by each, in premiums upon crops, either of grains or of roots, and 

 that premiums be offered for the largest crops grown at least cost. 



Mr. Percival, from the Committee upon the Third Topic, reported 

 as follows : 



The Committee to whom was assigned the following subject — 

 " What unusual demands on the farmers of Maine grow out of the 

 present condition and prospects of our country?" — met in council, 

 considered and discussed in a careful manner the subject, but be- 

 fore committing our conclusions to paper in the form of a report, 

 we glanced Qver the last Annual Report of our Secretary, just laid 

 on our table, and there (on page 44) we found a report on the same 

 subject, in which this matter is fully and ably treated. Man}'- im- 

 portant and valuable considerations and suggestions are given, 

 and it seemed to us that nearly everything was there said that the 

 subject demanded, leaving little for us to do but to call attention 

 to that report. 



On page 211 of our Secretary's Report, he has summed up the 

 whole matter, finished up what he did not say in his former one. 

 He there forcibly and properly reminds us that the last call for 

 men for our army took a large proportion of the men from the pro- 

 ducing classes. That help which the former must have, will, in 

 the nature of things, be scarce and dear ; therefore, the necessity 

 of early and well matured plans, unusual care in the economy of 



