KENNEBEC COUNTY SOCIETY, H 



now go a begging for "takers ". Id short, our butter cows don't 

 pay. 



Our display of fruit was never better ; this, especially apple- 

 growing, promises to become one of our leading farm industries. 

 This, and other changes in our system of farming, are very dis- 

 cernible. 



There is a marked improvement in stock, by the infusion of bet- 

 ter blood, and in the selection, feeding and care of them. The 

 "hen fever" is quite prevalent; on farms where hens were hardly 

 tolerated, they prove, when cared for, to be good stock to invest 

 in. A demand has been engendered for mutton sheep. 



In field crops, we a*re growing more wheat and less potatoes ; 

 oats instead of barley. 



•We are sorry to report that many of our most active and influ- 

 ential farmers are abandoning the sowing of clover-seed, at 

 "seeding down". It has become so very uncertain of catch, or 

 so sure to winter-kill, that farmers don't care to repeat the risk. 



Ever since the organization of this Society, myself, and less than 

 a dozen others, have done the labor incident to the Exhibitions, 

 and payed the deficits, hoping for better days ; but, unless there is 

 anew impulse, very soon, it will cause "meek eyed patience to 

 fold her arms in dispair". 



Samuel Wasson, Secretary. 



KENNEBEC COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The year through which we have just passed has been one of 

 unusual returns for labor expended upon the farm, as well as in 

 the growth and fatteniug of live stock. With the very short crop 

 of hay last year, farmers were obliged to dispose of the bulk of 

 their stock in order to produce an equilibrium between the fodder 

 and animals to consume it. This was partially accomplished at 

 great sacrifice and the balance of the stock brought through the 

 winter upon scanty herbage and grain. The result of this was, 

 poor animals,* small manure heaps and empty purses to commence 

 another summer of toil, which for a time promised to be even 

 more unfruitful than the last. But we have every reason to be 

 thankful to Him who " sendeth the rain upon the just and upon 



