Xxviii BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



So far as can be gathered from the returns of the county and 

 local agricultural societies, and from the reports of the same 

 which are generally published in the local press, they seem to be 

 doing a good work in stimulating farmers to a healthy competition 

 in their business; while through the guidance of the Board of 

 Agriculture, so far as relates to the disposition of a portion of the 

 State bounty granted to agricultural societies, they are stimulat- 

 ing improvements of a positive and enduring character. By 

 offering premiums for permanent farm improvements, for thorough 

 drainage, for the introduction of pure blood stock, for the estab- 

 lishment of home nurseries, for the culture of wheat, for the en- 

 couragement of Farmers' Clubs, and other matters affecting the 

 real prosperity and advancement of our agriculture, these socie- 

 ties are doing a most useful and important work. 



By reference to the table just given, it will be noticed that from 

 a very early date agricultural societies have had an existence in 

 our State, and in districts where they have longest existed, there 

 we find to-day agriculture is in a more advanced and prosperous 

 condition than in sections beyond the immediate influence of such 

 societies. In Kennebec county, for example, an agricultural so- 

 ciety was organized so early as 1787, and as early as 1818 it was 

 incorporated by the State of Massachusetts, and which has con- 

 tinued to the present day — having been the parent of all similar 

 societies in Maine. When this pioneer society was organized by 

 a few intelligent and far-seeing farmers, there were but half a 

 dozen similar societies in all North America, and the good results 

 of its labors in behalf of improved and enlightened husbandry in 

 our State can never be over-estimated. Through its labors an 

 agricultural journal was early established in Maine, and with this, 

 other ageticies for the advancement of improved agriculture have 

 been carried forward, until it seems not too much to say that to 

 this one society we are largely indebted for the character of our 

 agriculture of to-day. 



The present year has witnessed the completion of the first cen- 

 tury of our National existence, celebrated by the holding of the 

 great International Exposition at Philadelphia, to which thousands 

 of our Maine people went as visitors. It is safe to say that our 

 people did not fully come up to a proper appreciation of the im- 

 portance of this exhibition, and that notwithstanding the credit- 

 able display made by residents of Maine, it was not half what it 



