168 • BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



uro and cultivate, and the quickest return for this is by a grain 

 crop ; for we put on a verj-^ moderate quantity of seed. Wheat is 

 the best for spring sowing, and winter rye for autumn sowing. 



We have on the Saco river, large tracts of low meadows and 

 intervales, Avhich yield various grasses both wild and cultivated, 

 the hay from which is from a third to three fourths the value of 

 English hay, and affords a pretty good security against short crops 

 of that. On these natural meadows, where permanency is required, 

 too early cutting is very injurious, especially in dry seasons, by 

 exposing the surface of the ground to the scorching sun. As a 

 general rule, four inches is the best hight at which to cut, because 

 the stubble protects the roots from the hot sun by day, and retains 

 the moisture at night. 



When I can have hay well dried, salt should not be used. Too 

 much salt is injurious to cattle in winter, and I prefer salting cattle 

 in some other way. « 



Horse rakes of various kinds are used in this vicinity ; the revol- 

 ver for smooth lands, is best ; spring tooth for rough ground. A 

 good horse rake well managed, is equal to six or seven men with 

 common hand rakes. I furnished a partial supply of hay caps 

 this year, four feet square, which answered a good purpose, at an 

 expense of twenty cents each, but have had very little use for them, 

 this season, unless to prevent the hay from drj'ing tbo much. 



I have made two under drains, thirty five or forty rods each, in 

 length, with decided advantage every way. It took up a quantity 

 of worthless stones with which I made the drain which carried off 

 the surplus water admirably. Wet meadows are verj much bene- 

 fited by ditching. If proper attention was given to ditching and 

 undcrdraining, I venture to say that West Oxford would be as 

 good a hay country as any other of the same extent of tcrritorj'', 

 within the State. I see no reason wh}' the raising of sheep in this 

 region, would not be as profitable as any where else in Maine. 

 If riglitly attended to, they can bo kept wliolly on wliat we call 

 meadow hcv/ in winter, and on our hill-side pastures in summer. 

 I have come to the conclusion, after actual and cai'eful observation, 

 that corn fodder is worth more for the winter food of sheep, than 

 for any other cattle. (Jive me low meadow hay of the right sort, 

 with corn fodder for a change, and I can keep sheep, in large or 

 small flocks, in good condition, without other feed." 



