270 NORTH KENNEBEC SOCIETY. 



entitled to be called a farmer unless he raises some hundred bushels 

 of beets, carrots, turnips, &c. The haj crop has been abundant 

 and was generally well secured. The price is some two to three 

 dollars less per ton than last year, and this will exert a beneficial 

 influence hj inducing the farmers to keep more and better animals, 

 and thereby enrich their farms. The high price of stock has taken 

 off a large proportion of the best animals for several years past. The 

 consequence is, there is a scarcity of milch cows, dairy products are 

 high and likely to be so, the hay has been sold from the farms, and 

 new methods have to be resorted to to keep up the fertility of the 

 soil. 



The competition for premiums on crops is small, our farmers being 

 slow to move out of the old fashioned way of management, and guess- 

 ing at the results of all their experiments. They will not be at the 

 trouble to keep account with their crops for the small premiums 

 which our society are able to make. 



Our society has got somewhat into debt in purchasing and fitting 

 up their show grounds, and will not for some time be able to offer 

 large premiums. 



Our expenses have been some more than formerly — the Trustees 

 having adopted the plan of furnishing dinners for the several Com- 

 mittees on the days of the shows ; this gave them much less trouble 

 in filling up the Committees, but was quite an item of expense. I 

 think it a very good plan. 



Our show was holden two weeks earlier than usual, the weather 

 was extremely warm, farmers being busy, and the attendance lighter 

 than at any former exhibition, therefore the receipts were less ; but 

 I think the interest in agricultural matters decidedly on the in- 

 crease. 



The subjects of draining, mixing of soils, the conversion of the 

 muck of our swamps and low lands into fertilizers, are agitating the 

 minds of our fixrmers generally ; improved implements are sought 

 for ; better modes of culture enquired for ; and there seems to be 

 an increasing interest in the subject of agriculture generally. 



Respectfully yours, 



Joseph Percival. Secretary. 



