186 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



to meet the wants of its productions and bring them to perfection, 

 ■with the least possible human effort, and least detriment by exhaust- 

 ing its plant-sustaining elements, may satisfy any one that the 

 subject is not yet exhausted. And it would be a matter of no sur- 

 prise, if new and important truths should hereafter be developed, 

 and our theories be entirely superceded by an improved science con- 

 ducive to new practice. 



Yet it is very evident that our only present safe course is to prac- 

 tice upon what light we have, to make the most of the means within 

 our reach, and to advance in the right direction as fast as possible. 

 It appears to me that the question to be considered^ — to wit, the 

 renovation of worn out lands — embraces directly or indirectly almost 

 every branch of agriculture. 



It depends not only upon properly working the soil, but also upon 

 the making and application of manures, keeping stock, rotation of 

 crops, labor saving implements, industry, economy, and such an 

 application of time and talent as is necessary to successful business 

 of any kind, especially to men who start in life with every thing to 

 gain and nothing to lose. 



Fortunately the main divisions of this subject, relating to stock, 

 manures, &c., have been committed by the Board to abler hands; 

 a correct knowledge of which I deem to be all that is necessary, with 

 corresponding practice, to restore the exhausted farms to their orig- 

 inal capabilities. I presume it Avill be admitted that where a correct 

 system of farming has been pursued, the farm has not been exhausted; 

 consequently an investigation of the causes of this deterioration may 

 lead (in most, if not in all cases) directly to the remedy. 



In a ninjority of cases, I think it will be found that at the com- 

 mencement, the farm was too large — that is, it was out of proportion 

 to the means of carrying it on successfully. The low price of land 

 in Maine, has induced many to purchase more land than they could 

 cultivate to advantage, with the means at command, and this has 

 conduced to much bad practice ; such as, shallow plowing, a succes- 

 sion of same crops, grazing mowing lands in the spring and fall, 

 selling the crops off the farm, instead of converting them into stock, 

 and disposing of the proceeds of the dairy, pork, beef, &c., and what 

 is of vast importance to the farmer, a neglect of the means within 

 reach of accumulating fertilizers, by the proper use of muck, lime, 



