10 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Chesterville ; November 20, New Sharon; November 21, Farm- 

 ington; November 23, East Dixfield; November 24 and 25, 

 Gardiner; November 2-/, Winthrop; November 28, Limington; 

 November 30, Hollis Center; December i, York Village; 

 December 2, Woolwich ; December 3, Richmond Corner ; 

 December 4, Nobleboro; December 5, South Newcastle; Decem- 

 ber 7, South Jefferson; December 11, South Warren; Decem- 

 ber 12, Appleton; December 18, Thorndike. 



Several special meetings have also been held, in connection 

 with granges. The attendance at the institutes has been fully 

 as large as in past years, and the interested and intelligent audi- 

 ences show the appreciation of these meetings. Never in the 

 history of the work in this State have the farmers been more 

 credulous in regard to the improved methods presented to them 

 and more ready to accept them. Subjects of practical interest 

 have been discussed, and the stimulation resulting from the con- 

 tact of the farmers with each other and the discussion of their 

 work, as well as the information gained from the speakers, have 

 been productive of much good. The speakers from out of the 

 State who have attended these meetings are as follows : Prof. 

 J. M. Trueman, Storrs, Connecticut; E. Cyrus Miller, Hayden- 

 ville, jMass. ; Forest Henry-, Dover, Minn. ; Andrew Elliott, 

 Gait, Ontario; and Prof. J. \\'. Sanborn, Gilmanton, N. H. 



AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. 



The past season was a successful one for the greater part of 

 the agricultural fairs. The weather was very favorable and in 

 general the attendance at these fairs was large. In many 

 instances the excellent quality of the exhibits and the promi- 

 nence of the educational features were especially noted. The 

 Department has called the attention of the officers of the agri- 

 cultural societies to the statute which governs the fairs, during 

 the past year, and has urged the secretaries to see that the 

 societies which draw aid from the State do more for agriculture 

 by increasing their premiums on agricultural products, and mak- 

 ing a special effort to secure a more intelligent, progressive 

 agricultural exhibition. 



It is our opinion that a revision of the premium lists of some 

 of the fairs might be beneficial. Those having charge of this 



