INSTITUTE AT SKOWIIEGAX. 25'J 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 



Institute at Skowliegan. 



An Institute for Somerset Count^y was held at Skowhcgan, Feb- 

 ruary 27th. Farmers were in attendance from a wide section. Free 

 entertainment was provided for all present. There were present, of 

 the members, A. L. Smiley of Somerset, W. H. Pearson of Kenne- 

 bec, Professor Baleutine of the State College, S. L. Ilolbrook. and 

 C. H. Cobb. 



David Horn, Esq., President of the Somerset Central Agricultural 

 Society, called to order and invited William I). Ha3-den, an ex- 

 member of the Board, to preside. On taking the chair, Mr. Hayden 

 in a fitting manner expressed the appreciation the farmers of the 

 county feel in the work of the Institutes, and the pleasure felt at 

 being able to welcome the members of the Board among them. It 

 is believed that it can be claimed that the count\' ranks well in its 

 agriculture when compared with other sections of the State. It is 

 well known that the county breeds and raises some of the best 

 stock found in the State, and raises it in large numbers. 



In the forenoon Secretary Gilbert and Prof. Balentine spoke on 

 the following question, proposed and presented b}' the fai-mers of the 

 vicinit\' : 



" Will it pay an average farmer to buy corn, shorts, or cotton- 

 seed meal and feed to stock for the production of wool or mutton, 

 pork, beef, butter and cheese, or the growing of young stock?" 



Mr. Smile3-, in the afternoon, read a valuable paper entitled " The 

 Farmer as he is," after which the subject of •' Growing Sweet Corn 

 for Canning" was discussed by Mr. Cobb. 



In the evening the exercises opened with a paper bj- Mr. Pearson, 

 following which Hon. W. B. Ferguson of Dixmont repeated his 

 lecture, " Labor and Pxlucation," given at New Gloucester. 



From want of space a full report of this Institute is omitted. It 

 was well attended, the discussions were of a high character, and 

 the interest manifested throughout proves that the farming of the 

 count\' is in the hands of those who are studious for its future 

 success. Thanks for courtesies extended and favors rendered closed 

 the exercises. 



