•14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Stores of forage, proved shorter than was anticipated, the autumnal 

 feed being said to be abundant and good tintil the snow fell^ and as 

 soon as this disappeared in spring, cattle could find plenty of fresh 

 ■and nutritious grasses. Some of the residents, who had been familiar 

 with agricultural pursuits in other States, assured me that in this 

 regard Aroostook possessed decided advantages over southern Maine 

 or Massachusetts. The value of such pasturage will be readily 

 appreciated by every practical farmer. 



A very noticeable peculiarity of the climate of Aroostook, is the 

 exemption hitherto enjoyed from injurious droughts. The settlers 

 informed me that although there had been times when rain would 

 have been acceptable somewhat sooner than it came, yet, that it 

 could not be truthfully said that actual injury had ever ensued for 

 want of it. 



Whether, and to what extent, this exemption maybe attributed to 

 the existence of primeval forests, and whether it may be expected to 

 continue after the woodman's axe has done its work, may be a matter 

 of some uncertainty; but the probability that they are intimately 

 connected, the one with the other, adds force to the well known and 

 abundant arguments against indiscriminate waste and strip, and in 

 favor of retaining, (or, if preferred in some cases, allowing an 

 immediate second growth of,) sufficient wood for fuel, timber, and 

 especially for shelter to their homes, fields, orchards, cattle and 

 crops. The subject of shelter in a climate like ours, is one of such 

 importance that I cannot forbear to express the hope that it may be 

 duly considered and acted upon. 



Productions. All the small grains thrive well. Wheat is not 

 so extensively grown as formerly, the fly, or midge, (commonly 

 called weevil,) rust and mildew being found serious drawbacks upon 

 its profitable culture. I was informed by Mr. Nathaniel Blake of 

 Portage Lake, (number thirteen, in sixth range,) that the wheat-fly 

 had never troubled the grain there, and that he usually reaps twenty- 

 five bushels per acre ; but this was the only instance of entire 

 exemption found, although at Patten and some other places, injury 

 from the midge had been far less than from rust. Mr. Blake also 

 stated of this locality, that frosts were usually two weeks or more 

 later than at number eleven, some ten or twelve miles south of it. 

 ^Ir. J. W. Haines, an old settler from Kennebec county, on Letter 



