190 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



_L *- -J 



side, and the muck is of good quality ; where 1 take out tlio muck 

 grass works in easily and grows well. I also find the same 

 stratum of dark fine sand mixed with charcoal in the swamp on 

 the upland as I did on the interval, and it produces well after 

 plowing. Oats and barley grow well and yield bountifully, but 

 the straw is weak and liable to lodge. « 



The average cost of ditching is about twenty-five cents per rod ; 

 for filling with sand alone the expense is about the same with me ; 

 much depends on the distance one has to draw tli£ sand. Cov- 

 ered drains are more expensive — much depending on the material 

 used for the drain. 



Hon. D. II. Thing of Mt. Vernon, followed with an address on 

 what he termed " Stick-to-it-iveness," graphically portraying the 

 advantages of remaining by the old homestead in spite of dis- 

 couraging seasons, and the rewards of perseverance in well-doing, 

 which was received with great favor, and closed the exercises of 

 the evening. , 



THIRD DAY. 



Thursday, January 25, 1872. 



The Board re-assembled at 10 o'clock, when an Address was 

 delivered by T. S.,Gold, Esq., Secretary of the Connecticut State 

 Board of Agriculture, on 



The Production of Milk. 



Mr. Gold. Mr. President and Gentlemen: — The successful pro- 

 duction of milk depends almost entirely upon the grass crop for 

 its great foundation. There is no section of country where milk 

 can be produced extensively and profitably except where grass 

 thrives. We are obliged in some cases to obtain milk for a par- 

 ticular purpose where grass is not the natural product, but we do 

 it under great difficulties. Where grass is the main dependence 

 we are often obliged, by the particular character of the season or 

 other circumstances, to call in other substances, but after all, 

 grass must be the main dependence, either as green grass or after 

 being dried. With either of these in abundance milk can be pro- 

 duced of the finest quality anil in the greatest profusion. It is 

 foreign to my purpose to expend very much time upon the subject 

 of feeding as a means of producing milk, yet we are all aware of 

 the fact, and I lay it down as an established principle, that the 

 quantity and quality of the milk will depend very largely upon 



