SECRETARY'S REPORT. 181 



are formed in beds, varying in size, from half an acre to ten acres, 

 and in depth, from one foot to five feet. Chum is the remains of 

 the fish called pogy or menhaden, after the oil is pressed out, and 

 somewhat resembles fine chopped hay. 



Prof Johnston says, " sea-weed contains potash, soda, sulphuric 

 acid, salt and magnesia, the predominating constituents being pot- 

 ash, sulphuric acid, and salt;" substances needed by crops. A 

 prime compost, especially for seeding-down, is made of rock-weed 

 and muck, mixed in alternate layers. Fresh rock-weed, spread over 

 newly-sown turnips, is a sure preventive against the ravages of 

 the fly, and the turnip will be smooth and fair as a maiden's brow. 

 As a top-dressing, it is fast going into disuse, an impression prevail- 

 ing that it " drives " the land. The fairest and best flavored pota- 

 toes, grown along shore, are raised upon eel-grass. Complaint is 

 yet to be made of the rot affecting potatoes planted upon it, although 

 the yield is much less than on yard manure. The only objection to 

 eel-grass is, that it takes too long to decompose, but if mixed with 

 lime — which increases its manurial value — it will rot as quick as 

 straw. Some of my thriftiest potatoes are growing upon this mix- 

 ture, it having been in stack but fourteen days. For wet, heavy, 

 adhesive soil, it is first rate to make it dry, light and friable. "With 

 both rock-weed and eel-grass, their " virtues are many, and vices 

 few." Of muscle-bed, our farmers, one and all, acknowledge its 

 merits, yet but few practically appreciate its worth, while it is neg- 

 lected by many, and mis-applied by others. As a top-dressing for 

 grass on clay soil, among the long list of concentrated manures, it 

 has no compeer ; rapid and energetic in its action, and durable in 

 its efiects. Land, that for years has only grown wire-grass and 

 white-weed, will, immediately after its application, produce a luxu- 

 riant crop of Timothy. 



On a field in western Hancock, liberally dressed during the win- 

 ter of the " Aroostook war," its influence is still perceivable. To 

 spread broadcast, it is preferable to bone, superphosphate or guano. 

 It must, however, be hauled during cold weather, so as to freeze, or 

 it is valueless. Nature seems to have made those deposits especially 

 to renovate worn-out grass lands. 



For several years, some few of our maratime farmers have devoted 

 a month or two after haying, to the catching of pogies for the oil, 



