SECRETARY'S REPORT. J 9 



''In consequence of the injury done to wheat by the rust and 

 weevil in past years, the farmers in Patten have engaged more largely 

 in growing oats. It is a surer crop and finds a ready market at a 

 fair price. Rye yields a fair crop here and is a good substitute for 

 wheat, when the rust and weevil destroy wheat. 



Corn is a surer crop in this climate than wheat. I have raised 

 good sound corn every year, with one or two exceptions, for the last 

 ten years. The Dutton corn is the. best variety. I think corn does 

 best, planted on the same land, several years in succession. The 

 land should be suitably manured each year. It should be planted ' 

 as early as the twentieth of May, and unless there should be a heavy 

 frost in August, which is seldom the case, it will get ripe. I think 

 planting the hills near together, three feet between the rows and 

 , twenty inches between the hills, increases the crop. 



Wheat in good years yields from fifteen to thirty-five bushels to 

 the acre. Our farmers commonly raise wheat on burnt land. 'But 

 it will grow well on ploughed land if well manured. I think wheat 

 sown early in May, or in April if the season is favorable, is most 

 likely to do well. 



Mr. Jacob Frye of Patten, raised in 1857, 1,350 bushels of oats, 

 worth in cash $675. Raised in 1858, 658 bushels of oats, worth 

 in cash, $329. 



Mr. Andrew McCourt of Patten, raised this year, 587 bushels of 

 oats, worth in cash, $-293.50. 



Messrs. Samuel and William Waters of Patten, raised this year, 

 789 bushels of oats, worth in cash, $394.50. Also, 58 bushels of 

 wheat, worth in cash, $87. 



Mr. John R. Hammond of Patten, raised this year, 800 bushels 

 of oats, worth in cash, $400. 



Mr. William H. Hunt of Patten, raised this year, on eight acres 

 of land, 400 bushels of oats, worth in cash, $200. Also, 60 bush- 

 els wheat, worth in cash, $90. 



Mr. L. Rogers of Patten, raised this year, 371 bushels of oats, 

 53 bushels of rye, worth in cash,' $228. Also, 20 bushels of corn, 

 worth in cash, $30. Income of four cows, $109. 



Mr. Samuel Wiggins raised on his farm in Patten, 38 bushels of 

 wheat on one acre, on pasture land ploughed in June, and cross 

 ploughed in the spring. 



