Xviii BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



from alder. The former is proving a success, but the latter is yet 

 somewhat uncertain. From a ton of sweet fern a barrel of ex- 

 tract tannin is made, worth $22, and also a barrel of second quality 

 worth $7.50 per barrel. JFrom the alder, one cord will make one 

 barrel of extract, worth $20 ; while from hemlock bark, one cord 

 will make a barrel first-class extract, worth $20. The sweet fern is 

 dried twenty-four hours before being hauled to market, and the price 

 paid for it at the factory is $5 per ton, with 25 cents per mile for 

 hauling. Cumberland: Where the hay crop was harvested early 

 it was good, and farmers have foumi out the great advantage of 

 beginning to cut their hay before July 4th, especially on the sea- 

 board ; roots damaged fully fifty per cent, by drouth ; early pota- 

 toes good ; oats light, on account of drouth ; the Colorado beetle 

 was observed about Portland and vicinity. Knox: Hay yielded 

 about an average, and was harvested in good order ; corn is not 

 planted largely in the county, but was extra good ; wheat and 

 grain of all kinds fully an average; potatoes light and much be- 

 low the average, on account of drouth ; fruit crop not an average 

 in the county ; currant worm very destructive, but no signs yet of 

 Colorado bug. Lincoln: Hay not above an average, but secured 

 in good order ; grain of all kinds fully an average ; corn a very 

 good crop and much better than the average, and the same is true 

 of potatoes, which are of excellent quality ; root crop better than 

 an average ; the best crop of beans ever raised in the county has 

 been raised this year, also of cabbages, and of the latter consid- 

 erable quantities are raised which this year have sold for from 1 to 

 2| cents per pound ; more than an average of fruit, but not of 

 wheat; cheese factories have done about as well as usual; Colo- 

 rado beetle all over the county. Oxford : The hay crop was an 

 average one and was secured in excellent order; corn abundant 

 in localities where it was not injured by drouth, and especially on 

 such lands it was never better ; potatoes on moist land were good, 

 but light on dry soils, on the whole being about an average ; 

 grain was somewhat under an average, being injured- by drouth 

 and grasshoppers ; roots an average, but apples about a total 

 failure ; last year in some orchards where one hundred bushels 

 were harvested, not more than a peck has been gathered ; cheese 

 factories have done about two-thirds as much as last year — last 

 year the Canton factory made 15,000 pounds, and this year about 

 9,000 pounds ; hops from one-half to two-thirds of an average, 

 with prices from 27 to 28 cents ; the Colorado beetle has been 



