382 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



special crop ; therefore I say let us plant and sow such as our soil 

 is best adapted to produce and we shall have enough and some to 

 spare. 



I can see no way that we can successfully -compete with the 

 west in regard to some products. The very nature of their soil, 

 producing almost spontaneously, while ours requires so much 

 ■care and dressing, gives an advantage in their favor. The rail- 

 roads which now encompass and intersect almost our whole 

 country we believe on the whole work general goo 1, but they are 

 a great leveller. During the past two years witn the scarcity of 

 stock it must have* been much dearer here had it not been for rail- 

 road transportation. Considering the advantages of other States, 

 I do not think we can select any one branch that we may safely 

 pursue to the exclusion of all others. 



Adjourned. 



EVENING SESSION. 



The President. It has been suggested that before the regular 

 exercises of the evening, we might learn somewhat of the success 

 attending the establishment of associated efforts in cheese making 

 in this State, from gentlemen present who reside in or near the 

 localities where factories have been put into operation. May we 

 hear from Hon. Hannibal Belcher of Farmington ? 



Mr. Belcher. I did not expect to be called upon for informa- 

 tion in relation to this matter and am not prepared with any 

 statistical facts regarding it. I can only say in general terms 

 that after the session of your Board at Farmington, at which Mr. 

 "WiHard gave a very interesting and instructive address upon the 

 Bubject, and where others also spoke very freely and in a very 

 able manner upon it, there was much interest felt and some efforts 

 made to put the plan into actual trial. There was an attempt in 

 our town but it rather dropped through. In Strong, however, 

 some farmers got together and fairly started the enterprise, with 

 the help of some practical mechanics. Only comparatively few 

 took hold at first, but they found they could make good cheese 

 and found a ready sale for it at good prices. They found they 

 could sell a great deal more than they made. The effort last year 

 was so fully successful in all respects that almost every farmer in 

 the neighborhood has gone into it the present year. The whole 

 of their product was contracted for early in the season, at a good 

 price. So far as I can judge all feel more than satisfied. They 



