Xxvi BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



presented. I well remember but a few years ago when one of the mem- 

 bers presented the subject of 'Fish as food for Stock,' having particular 

 reference to feeding herring or porgy chum or pomace to sheep, and sus- 

 tained his position in its favor by well taken facts, reasons and arguments. 

 The effect upon the members and hearers was remarkable. Many accepted 

 it as a joke, some pooh poohed, or treated it witli contempt, while the 

 greater number let it go by default. But the subject has been studied 

 and looked into and experimented Avitli. and the original position sus- 

 tained, for the Superintendent of the College farm tells us that repeated 

 experiments under his own observation proves the fisli to be almost if not 

 quite equal in value to Indian corn for food for sheep. 



Prominent among the subjects discussed during the later years, has been 

 specialty fiirming, whicli lias been the means of eliciting much informa- 

 tion and many arguments pro and con. As a result, and growing directly 

 out of these discussions, Ave have our associated dairying system, the man- 

 ufacture of cheese by the factory method, which I consider one of the best 

 agricultural departures ever made in our State. I have faith in it, and be- 

 lieve it is yet to be a leading, pa3ang, and controlling interest in farming 

 in Maine. We are now down to "hard pan," in factory cheese making. 

 The experience of the past two years was not satisfactory to many pat- 

 rons of the factories, and the milk receipts this year have been much less 

 than at first. Tliere were several gootl reasons for these results, not the 

 least of which were inexperience and hard times. In my section of the 

 State a portion of the factories have been in operation the past season, 

 receiving a reduced amount of milk, and being worked on a more econom- 

 ical system. 



The indications for this year's results are favorable. The stock of 

 cheese has been largelj' marketed at comparatively paying prices, seven 

 to ten cents per pound, which is high, considering the price of milk and 

 butter. And still, the great, underlying argument in favor of associated 

 dairying — the gradual but sure improvement of our soils and farms — holds 

 as true* as ever. Tlie experiment lias been well begun in Maine, though at- 

 tended by adverse circumstances, and I trust it will be continued through 

 a series of years, until better and larger herds of cows, renovated and 

 enriched fields and farms, and those other attendant advantages Avhich 

 always accrue to a person" or community which produces and sells a man- 

 ufactured or condensed article ratlier tlian the raw material, sliall attest 

 the value and wisdom of practicing associated dairying in the old Pine 

 Tree State. 



During tlie decade the Secretary, who is really the head, front, and ex- 

 ponent of the Board, has been once clianged. There haA-e been but tliree 

 Secretaries since the organization, a period of twenty-five years. Our 

 annual reports, made up of the papers and discussions of the Board, re- 

 ports of societies, &c., and issued luider the supervision of the Secretary, 

 compare favorably with tliose of any State in tlie Union. Tlie volumes 

 for the twenty-five years comprise in themselves a valuable agricultural 

 library, adapted to the needs of the farmers of our State. They are in 



