FAKM CROPS. 1(53 



the winter there is little danger of the midge, rust or frosty 

 and by its ripening before the cool nights come on, the grain 

 is harder and more easily cured than the spring grains. A 

 sample of wmter wheat shown at the State Fair, raised by 

 Chirendon Butman of Plymouth, of which forty-five bushels 

 were raised upon one acre, was really worth while to look at^ 

 and gave one the confidence that Maine is really capable of 

 raising her own bread. 



Twelve years ago, when our Penobscot Agricultural Society 

 was formed, in the twenty-one towns incKided in the limits not 

 a single half acre of wheat was sown. The society offered, by 

 the direction of this Board, $50 in premiums for wheat cul- 

 ture, which brought out quite a good competition. The re- 

 ports were 78 bushels upon two acres, 40 bushels upon one 

 acre, and several others averaging 33 bushels to the acre ; 

 and to-day I think that I am safe in saying, outside of the 

 city and villages, those towns have this year raised their own 

 bread. I am glad to learn that the grist-mill in this place, 

 last year ground 23,000 bushels of wheat, and this year it 

 expects to grind nearly double that amount ; and it does seem 

 to me, Avith the fertility and easy cultivation of the soil in this 

 section, that western flour need not find a market here. 



I believe that it is quite a general feeling in this place, that 

 corn cannot be raised here. We used to think so in Penobscot 

 county, but when this Board discussed the corn question, at 

 Newport, and our county clubs took it up and offered a pre- 

 mium in gold for its culture, it was wonderful to see how 

 many planted a piece of corn, and how generally successful 

 was the result. I never saw better corn, either on the Ken- 

 nebec or Connecticut rivers, and it was a little curious that at 

 the huskings there was no lack of red ears ! From what I 

 have seen of the small pieces of corn planted here, I think 

 that it should take a prominent place in the farm crops of this 

 countv. 



Of course oats and barley will always form a conspicuous 

 part in the field crops. The sugar beet is just now receiving 

 a good deal of attention, and when we consider that our im- 



