SECRETARY'S REPORT, 225 



In regard to the present condition and future prospects of Maine 

 agriculture, we have much to commend and much to hope. Mind 

 is active — inquiring ; and the inquiring mind is subject to the uni- 

 versal law of j^rogress. I have but a single remark to make o 

 existing habit and practice. I am satisfied that the prevailing habit 

 and practice in farming, (it is not well to call it system or method,) 

 is continuously working a deterioration in the acreable hay crop. 



I have for many years been in the practice, in early summer, of 

 asking every farmer I met, "How is the grass looking in your 

 neighborhood ?" "Is your hay crop coming in heavy ?" " This sea- 

 sonable rain ensures an abundant hay crop." " This fine weather, 

 with frequent rains, is the best that could be ordered to secure a 

 heavy crop of hay." With such questions and remarks, I would 

 draw out the opinion and impressions of each on this important crop. 

 The result of this course shows that nobody is satisfied with the 

 weather. About nine in every ten will reply in these words : "Well 

 grass is light; particularly on old fields." Even the last season — 

 such an one as is rarely witnessed in a life-time — which, from its 

 opening, seemed specially designed to produce a most luxuriant for- 

 age crop, could not silence the croakers. All would admit that 

 "newly seeded fields were excellent," "but ." 



Now such a succession of unfavorable seasons is very disquieting 

 to an agricultural population, to say the least ; and should lead us 

 to inquire, if we may not in some good degree, secure'an immunity 

 from such natural evils. 



Too much cannot be said in favor of corn as a forage crop, to be 

 used for soiling, as an adjunct to pasturage, or as winter food. Six 

 tons per acre of dry fodder, is easily obtained ; and it is generally 

 rated as of equal value with good hay. In some of the States, it is 

 claimed to have been produced at an expenditure not exceeding one 

 dollar and a half per ton, when hay was worth from seven to eight 

 dollars per ton. 



In my practice, I have usually grown more than I have fed in its 

 green state. In one case, I had about one half a winter supply of 

 fodder for my cows from this source. It is usually recommended to 



profits of many productive acres are absorbed in ruinous half tillage of fields which 

 were bettor left entirely alone. It is bad enough to pay taxes on unproductive lands; 

 it is too bad to spend labor upon them. C. C. 



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