228 ' LINCOL!^ SOCIETY. 



from every section of its liQiits. Each county shouW use every 

 endeavor to have full and perfect reports at their agricultural 

 fairs and meetings, and arrangements made by which such re 

 ports could be generally distributed. It is from such informa- 

 tion, from reliable sources, carefully drawn up and published, 

 that the results of farming in different counties can be compared. 



May not the county of Lincoln look with reasonable expec^ 

 tations to the old county of York, on her west, for useful in- 

 styiction in renovating and restoring worn out pasture lands, 

 and the proper fertilizers for rendering productive, fields that 

 have been exhausted from a long succession of crops ? May 

 she not look to the young county of Aroostook, at the east, for 

 valuable hints in clearing the primitive forest trees, subduing 

 under brush, removing stumps, and rendering new land fit for 

 cultivation at the least expense ? And in return, cannot the 

 county of Lincoln furnish valuable information in relation to 

 lime as a fertilizer, it being so abundant and cheap, particularly 

 in this vicinity, as to enable any one thoroughly to test its value. 

 Let the county of Lincoln be fairly represented, with its rich 

 soil, fair cultivation, good crops, ready market, and high prices ; 

 publish the operations of our ship-builders, lime-burners, and 

 other manufacturers, not omitting to call attention to the amount 

 of bank stock held by farmers, ready at any time for a better 

 investment, and I assure you that if every other county in the 

 State can show an equal amount of wealth, young men will have 

 but little inducement to leave Maine for the purpose of getting 

 gain. 



The State of Elaine needs some system of instruction in prac* 

 tical farming,— some method by which young men may not only 

 learn the theory of cultivation, but may serve an apprenticeship 

 in agriculture. It cannot be expected that a broken merchant, 

 run down lawyer, worn-out doctor, or retired shipmaster, can 

 prudently manage the affairs of a farm. In every other branch 

 of business a practical knowledge is almost indispensable, but 

 farming has too long been considered so very simple that any 

 one could at once engage in it without the least preparation. 

 In this connection, I would remark, that some instruction is 

 necessary for young ladies in order to make them good farmers' 

 wives. Can it be expected that young ladies, fresh from the 



