266 KENNEBEC COUNTY SOCIETY. 



are cheaply kept and profitable — particularly valuable for oxen and 

 beef. The Devons are admired for beautiful color and richness of 

 milk, rather than great quantity of it. They prove very hardy, 

 active and serviceable; are very cheaply and easily kept ; make choice 

 beef, and are useful and valuable for the general purposes of cur 

 farmers. 



Crops. 



As the report on crops includes the pith and substance of the 

 statements of competitors, it is given in full, and the statements 

 themselves omitted. 



To the Trustees of Kennebec County Agricultural Society : 



The Committee appointed by you to award the Society's pre- 

 miums on crops, feel somewhat ashamed to report such a "beggarly 

 account" of awards as the facts in the case compel them to do at the 

 present time. For all the premiums which you oiFered to encourage 

 competition in the raising of different crops, statements were received 

 from only three individuals, and of course, the competition was nar- 

 rowed down to a small compass. The crops for which the premiums 

 were asked, were as few as were the competitors, viz : — barley, ruta 

 bacras, and carrots. No entries, or statements, came before us for 

 your premiums on the more important crops of corn, wheat, or rye, 

 &c., kc. What has become of the thrifty and energetic farmers 

 within the jurisdiction of this Society, who were wont to enter the 

 lists in friendly contests for the premiums on these staple crops ? 



The records of this Society can demonstrate, that in former times 

 its members were not a whit behind the chiefest f\irmers in the 

 Union, in the amount of crop per acre of these articles, which they 

 could rear and harvest from their farms ; and it does not speak well 

 for the reputation of their successors, to find the field abandoned, 

 either from want of abundant harvest, or through apathy in the 

 members. 



Barley. The premiums on barley we award as follows : To S. 

 N. Watson of North Fayette, the first premium ; and to AYilliam 

 Cochran of Readfield, the second premium. 



