AGRICULTURE OF LINCOLN COUNTY. 



109 



in the county, and especially in this town of Bristol, which (li\frts 

 the attention from the soil. Especially has this l)een the case in the 

 past. Now, however, ship-biiikling has, to a great extent, (lro[)pecl 

 away, and the shore fisheries have failed. Where, then, are we now 

 to look for profitable employment, and for that income which is not 

 only desirable but absolutely necessary, if not to these farms? On 

 them there is room and business for all. The i)ossibilities of profit- 

 able business in this direction are realized by few. Bristol, through 

 attention to the matter, and the work of its Farmers' Club, has 

 accomplished wonders in the improvement of the stock. When a 

 man wants a choice pair of cattle he goes to Bristol to find them. 

 So, too, wheat has been grown here yielding to tlie acre as large a 

 crop as in any other locality. Corn, also, is made a profitable crop. 

 These facts prove that here are resources in the soil v.iiicli only need 

 intelligent attention to be secured. We are here to-da}- to consider 

 the means and the methods through which the business may bo im- 

 proved, extended, and made more successful. 



Wm. Clakk, Bristol. AVe all know the want of Bristol is to get 

 these marine fertilizers transported to the farms. The soil is good 

 enough, so that with the application of these manures, which are in 

 abundant supply, it is bountifully productive. Capital and labor are 

 needed to make the business successful. 



Mr. Hunter had always supposed that Lincoln county had a thin- 

 ner soil than those sections of the State where agriculture had 

 assumed the position of the chief business. Still, there is no doubt 

 that if the natural resources within our reach were drawn upon, they 

 may be made profitably productive. Rock weed has proved a valu- 

 able fertilizer, and wherever used has largely increased the hay crop. 

 So, too, has it been used with success for corn and potatoes. For- 

 merly it was applied in a green state, and with fair success, but 

 now the practice [)revails of composting it' either with muck or with 

 barn manure, and with better results. Large quantities of grain, 

 especially of wheat, are grown, and chiefly from the application of 

 muscle mud. These products can be increased almost indefinitely 

 with the application of more labor. 



Capt. Trio.MAS Nichols. I have used the "lime ashes" from the 

 Rockland lime kilns, at the rate of fifty bushels to the acre, and 

 have secured bountiful crops of hay for five years after. Following 

 this, an application of " porgie chum," at the rate of one ton to 

 the acre, had produced similar results. The lime ashes were 



