18 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



product is worth, at market valuation, $1,357-50. The net profit 

 of the crop for last year, after paying all expenses, $263. 50. He 

 is perfectly satisfied with the place as his permanent home. 



Mr. Cushman of Penobscot and Aroostook Union said, the society 

 which I represent embraces a territory seventy-five miles in length ; 

 consequently, those at the extremes neither join the society or attend 

 its fairs. During the short time our society has been in operation, 

 its influence is very manifest. Improvement in the mode of culti- 

 vating Indian corn, the selection of seeds, the cultivation of fruits, 

 and in neat stock, has been quite extensive. The past season, al- 

 though most unfavorable by reason of severe drouth, excessive wet, 

 and early frost, has produced some very good crops. They are re- 

 ported of eighty-five bushels of corn, thirty-nine of wheat, twenty- 

 five of rye, seventy-five of oats, seventy-two of buckwheat, over 

 four hundred of potatoes, and nine hundred eighty of carrots, per 

 acre. It is now demonstrated that fruit can be grown there as well 

 as in other sections of the state. At our last fair about fifty varie- 

 ties of apples were exhibited, well grown and matured. The smaller 

 fruits flourish abundantly. 



Improvement in neat stock is just begun. At our last fair were 

 two calves — one only four months old, weighing four hundred seventy 

 pounds, and the other sixteen and one-half months old, weighing 

 1,300 pounds; and other good stock. Our farmers formerly raised 

 large quantities of hay for lumbering purposes, but now see the evil 

 of it, and are turning their attention to stock raising. Sheep are 

 rapidly multiplying ; and their large size and good condition show 

 that the climate and soil are admirably adapted to them. 



Buckwheat, though formerly neglected by many, is now consider- 

 ed the most valuable crop we have. It produces a large crop with 

 very little labor. It is best sown as late as the middle of June ; 

 and for domestic fowl and fattening swine, it has no equal. It is 

 common for pigs fattened upon it, to weigh when fifteen to eighteen 

 months old, from four hundred to nearly six hundred pounds. 



I have no means of producing statistics, as the gentleman from 

 Franklin did: yet could I do it, the sale of hay, grain, live stock, 

 beef and pork, would show an exportation of a very considerable 

 amount. 



The following communication from Dr. Rogers, secretary of this 

 society and resident in Patten was read : 



