EAST SOMERSET SOCIETY. 183 



compensation for the outlay and expense attending the business. 

 A few lots of sheep and swine were exhibited, some of which were 

 most excellent. Of the swine there were the Yorkshire, Essex 

 and Prince Albert, with several other breeds of less note. In the 

 selection of sheep, less care and attention is paid to the breed than 

 in the selection of any other kinds of stock. Sheep and swine are 

 two branches of stock raising too much neglected in this part of 

 Somerset, though many farmers have increased their flocks of 

 sheep within the last few years. 



Farming in this section was attended with very good success 

 the past season, crops were a good average compared with former 

 years. The hay crop was quite an abundant one, of excellent 

 quality, and as good weather prevailed most of the time during 

 the haying season it was secured in excellent condition. The 

 grass in this section has been damaged very much for several 

 years by a grub worm that works just under the surface, eating 

 off the roots that connect the sod with the moist earth below. 

 This grub is a white worm, from one inch and a half to two inches 

 long, and generally very numerous. In the fall of 18*75 they did 

 great damage to the grass fields ; in many instances the destruc- 

 tion was so complete the farmers were obliged to plow up those 

 fields in order to re-seed them to grass again. This enemy to 

 vegetation is more to be dreaded than all others together. The 

 wheat crop the past season was rather more than an average, and 

 had it not been for the severe drouth that occurred the last of 

 August and first of September, I think it would have been the 

 largest crop, and the grain of a better quality, than any crop for 

 several years, — in proportion to the number of acres devoted to 

 wheat. Corn was excellent in quality, and the yield per acre very 

 good. Wheat and corn are two of the prime necessaries of life, 

 and to farmers two of the most important crops to which they can 

 give their attention. Failing to raise these, two of the most staple 

 and necessary crops known to agriculture, has much to do with 

 the present hard times which prevail throughout the agricultural 

 districts of the State of Maine. 



