8 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



been the aim to present them in terras which would be attractive to 

 the hearers, at the same time care was taken that they be elevating 

 in their character and lead to a higher stud\- of, and further progress 

 in, the subjects ti'eated. Our agriculture being to a large degree 

 stock husbandr}' in some one or other of its branches, man}- of the 

 Institutes have been devoted largely to the discussion of principles 

 and practices relating to and bearing upon the feeding and care of 

 domestic animals. Other subjects have been introduced for A'ariet}', 

 and to conform to special wants in certain localities. To the extent 

 of the space allowed these lectures are presented herewith. 



It is further specified that the Secretar}' shall acquaint himself by 

 personal observation, investigation and correspondence with the 

 methods and wants of practical husbandry, the means of fertiliza- 

 tion, tlic adaptation of various products to the soils and climate of 

 Maine ; also with the progress of scientific and practical agriculture 

 elsewhere. In complying with these requirements, such time as has 

 remained from other duties has been devoted to the study, b}' ob- 

 servation and investigation, of our own agriculture — its methods 

 and practices, conditions and wants ; and this has been the basis in 

 a measure from which the work of the Board has been shaped. 



Science, in its application to practical agriculture, is continually 

 modifying methods and practices, and pressing these modifications 

 upon the attention of farmei-s. Investigation into their practiea- 

 bilit}' and into their adaptation to the conditions and to the wants 

 of our own husbandry-, is made a duty of the Secretary, and has 

 been, to a limited extent, pursued ; and is still being continued. 

 Some of the results of this work herein are presented. 



The year just passed has been marked by the occurrence of one 



the severest droughts on record, extending all over our broad 

 State, and also outside our own borders. It did not, however, affect 

 all quarters of the State alike ; and, foitunately. its greatest sever- 

 ity in any section was not reached till the cultivated crops of the 

 farm luul arrived to a degi-ee of maturity which placed them in a 

 measure bej'ond its influence. In Oxford count}-, the northern part 

 of Androscoggin and Kennebec, and in Somerset county, it reached 

 a degree of severity- never before experienced, and subjected the 

 inhal)itants to serious inconvenience on account of the scarcity of 

 water. Wells and streams were lower than ever was known Ijcfore, 

 and in some cases farmers were obliged to drive their cattle several 

 miles for water. The shore counties, and the extreme eastern 



