SECRETARY'S REPORT. 1]_ 



Mr. Dill also accompanied the above statistics with explanatory 

 remarks upon some of the items included in the list. 



Mr. Flint said Somerset county received ^150.000 per annum 

 from sheep sold, without detriment to the flocks. The statistics of 

 Mr. Dill were no doubt true ; and yet that county is now half for- 

 est. The Dead river country is capable of producing as much as 

 the whole county now does. The same is true of Somerset county. 

 That whole -section is a most inviting field to farmers, far in advance 

 of the west. 



Mr. Dill said there was no better land in the world. 



Mr. True said that the way to send the people into the settling 

 lands, is to call attention to the resources of the state. We all re- 

 member how this was effected by the labors of Dr. Holmes, some 

 years ago, and more recently by the labors of our secretary. He 

 had been surprised at some facts that had lately come to his knowl- 

 edge in reference to the northern part of Oxford county. 



Mr. Rice said that some years ago he went over that section and 

 from that time to the present he has had no doubt that if a young 

 man, about starting for California or the west, with four or five 

 hundred dollars, would go in there, and sufier the same privations, 

 be would do far better. The best part of Oxford county is today 

 covered with forest. There is no better field than our own state 

 presents. Every capability of the state should be brought out, and 

 the northern part of Oxford is ecjual to any part of the state. 



Mr. Hammatt of North Penobscot said his society had greatly 

 revived the last year, and more interest was felt ; they held a good 

 show the past autumn which seems to have had much influence in 

 awakening an interest in a<jricultnre. 



Mr. Hammond of Piscataquis said that his society had increased 

 the interest in farming — had enlarged their premiums. A new in- 

 terest has been felt in procuring the reports of the secretary of this 

 Board, and they had been under the necessity of requiring that the 

 volumes be passed from family to family. There is increasing inter- 

 est in sheep growing. South Downs have been introduced within 

 the year to a limited extent. 



There is excellent soil in Piscataquis, and of late the farmers by 

 deep ploughing are reaping advantages beyond the past. One field 

 of fifteen acres, badly exhausted was ploughed three inches deeper 



