XXxii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



raising wheat and corn, and go far towards settling the question 

 of redeeming and improving our worn-out farms. The direct 

 profit is large ; for a crop of twelve or fifteen tons per acre, at a 

 value of four to five dollars per ton, would pay better than any 

 cash crop now raised, aside from the indirect advantages of cattle 

 food, mellow and improved land for future crops. It would give 

 employment to increased field labor during the summer culture, 

 and in the manufacturing department during the winter months. 

 It would supply a new branch of industry, establish new centres of 

 trade, develop new fields for inventive skill, save millions of dollars 

 to the country at large in foreign cost of sugar and transportation, 

 and enhance the value of every farm in the vicinity of the factory. 

 It is a subject of national importance ; for, with a demand for two 

 thousand tons of sugar a day from abroad, what would be our 

 position in case of war with a maritime power ? Imagine the in- 

 creased prosperity if we could add to our annual national produc- 

 tion even fifty million dollars' worth of sugar. It would induce 

 superior methods of culture, better home markets and greater 

 prosperity for the people. 



It seems to me that the farmers of Maine need to turn their at- 

 tention more to the saving and composting of farm manures and 

 home fertilizers, obtained from every source possible ; to the 

 growing of sheep and neat cattle, and to the production of those 

 great food crops, Indian corn and wheat. The hay fed upon the 

 farms will give manure of the best quality, (if there is fed with it 

 meal and shorts it will be so much the better,) and this applied to 

 the land will keep up its fertility, and yield good paying crops. 

 The selling of hay, and the purchase of corn, flour and commer- 

 cial fertilizers, is a somewhat questionable system of farm man- 

 agement, and I believe has too long been practiced by many of 

 our farmers. The change indicated would contribute largely to 

 the advancement of our agriculture in its truest sense ; and with 

 the opening season a strong and united efi"ort should be made to 

 put it in practice. 



Respectfully submitted. 



SAMUEL L. BOARDMAN, 



Secretary of Buard of Agriculture. 

 Augusta, December 28, 1876. 



