AGRICULTURE OF THE STATK. 15 



Lincoln, at Damariscotta, in connection with 



Pomological Societ}', February 

 14-16. 



Waldo, at South Montville, February 20. 



Knox, St. Burketville, February 21, 



Cumberland, at Naples, February 27. 



New Gloucester, March 15. 



Twenty-seven institutes have been held during the year at a cost 

 of $1034. 9H, an average of $60.55 each. Only a single institute 

 has been interrupted by storm. The following experts from other 

 States have been employed at one or more institutes: Hon. F. D. 

 Douglass, President of the Vermont Dairymen's Association, Prof. 

 S. T. Maynard of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, Prof. 

 Geo. H. Whitchers of the New Hampshire Agriculture College, Prof. 

 James Cheesman, President of the New England Creameries Asso- 

 ciation, Dr. George Austin Bowen, member of the Connecticut Board 

 of Asfriculture and Hon. J. H. Hale of the same State, Hon. P. M. 

 Harwood, Barre, Massachusetts; and Hon. E. F. Bowditch, Secre- 

 tary of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture. 

 Within the State, but not members of the Board, the following 

 lecturers have been employed: Edward Wiggin, Esq., Presque 

 Isle; A. I. Brown, Esq., Belfast; Hon. G. M. Gowell, Bowdoin ; 

 Dr. G. M. Twitchell, Fairfield; Joel Richardson, Esq., Newport; 

 Hon. Rufus Prince and C. V. Knight, Esq., Turner. 



The lectures and papers given in this report show the character 

 and scope of the work carried on. 



AGRICULTURE OF THE STATE. 



Tl c season of 1888 was a memorable one in the annals of crop 

 production in our State The snow laid on the ground late in 

 spring, no seed was pyt into the ground till well into the month of 

 May, and as a result the time for seeding was unusually limited, 

 and much of the work was so late as to be out of season for the best 

 results . A rainy season set in the last «f A ugust and continued through 

 till winter. But very few sunny days intervened between the rains and 

 the clouds in all that time. It was hardly possible to dry any of 

 the fodder crops of the farm after the rainy season set in, and, as a 



