284 SOUTH KENNEBEC SOCIETY. 



crops of grass, from the same cause. Could the average be brought 

 up to sixty bushels per acre, it is believed it would nearly double 

 the amount of corn raised in the State, in good seasons. To bring 

 the average per acre to the most profitable point, and to a level near 

 that point, is the object to be aimed at ; then, the number of acres 

 may be extended. An increase of crops will give an increase of 

 stock ; increase of stock, an increase of manure ; an increase of ma- 

 nure, an increase of crops. Repeated revolutinns of the kind are 

 needed to place Maine as an agricultural State in the position which 

 she is adapted, by her natural advantages, to occupy. 



We close our labors and our report, by inviting all competitors in 

 coming time, to be more definite in stating the amount of manure 

 used, than simply to give the number of loads. 



Nathan Foster. 

 Gardiner, Dec. 1, 1857. 



From Statements on Crops. ' 



Wheat. Gilmore Blin of Dresden, obtained first premium [on 

 wheat, and made the following statement : 



Sowed one acre May 1st, on dry rocky land which produced corn 

 the previous year ; manured the land for corn by applying thirteen 

 common cart loads (forty bushels per load) of barn-yard manure per 

 acre, in hills, The wheat on this land grew well, but was badly 

 injured by the weevil. Next sowed on the 13th of May, on one 

 and one-half acres wet, stony land, canting to the east. This land 

 was manured for potatoes in ISSG, by applying ten cart loads of 

 manure per acre. Next year sowed 26th of May, on three-fourths 

 acre of very wet land, manured in 1856 like the last named piece. 

 The wheat on this piece was much injured by rains and did not 

 grow large, but the kernel was good. Next sowed on 5th of June, 

 on three-fourths acre of wet land, where potatoes and turnips had 

 been produced the previous year; manured then (185G) with twelve 

 loads of barn-yard manure per acre. Put no manure on any of the 

 above mentioned pieces this year, nor was the land ever under- 

 drained. The depth of soil is fourteen inches, with hard, gravelly 

 substratum. The soil is yellow, works light and easily when dry. 



