SECRETARY'S REPORT. 201 



chain off the rows three feet the other way, putting one shovelful of 

 old, rotten barnyard, hog or compost dressing in each hill ; drop 

 about six kernels in each hill. I find on our back or highlands 

 which are moist or wet, they spread tbeir dressing, turn two furrows 

 together, and plant on top of these furrows. 



My own manner of cultivation is, in the first year, to plow five or 

 six inches deep and sow to oats ; the next fiill plow nine inches, or 

 three or four inches deeper than when broke up — this I call subsoiling; 

 next spring, plow three to four inches — this lightens the soil ; then 

 spread on my coarse or green dressing, working it in well with a 

 horse-hoe and harrow; plant my rows three feet each way, with a 

 shovelful of -old manure in each hill; use the Dutton corn mostly. 



Some plant in ground broke up in the spring, treated in the same 

 way as old ground, . I consider this last method the best, if it was 

 not for the worms — they are apt to get more than their share. 



Swine. 



By W. M. Palmer, Palmyra. 



I enter upon this subject, which has been assigned me, with some 

 diffidence and reluctance, both by reason of its nature as well as by 

 the want of statistics necessary to present it in a proper light to the 

 public. I am very well aware that the subject does not present that 

 field for the display of learning and research, or one that is likely 

 to excite the enthusiasm of the writer of genius, that many other 

 topics might; though we read that ancient Rome was built upon the 

 prophetic site made known to the Trojan hero, by a "sow reclining 

 upon the ground surrounded by a litter of thirty white pigs." 



Whatever, then, in general, may be the political influence of 

 swine, whatever connection in the minds of statesmen they may 

 have with government, this is most certain, that they form a large 

 part of the bone and muscle — ■' the sinews of war" of our country, 

 and especially of the people of Maine. I desire, therefore to call 

 the attention of the public to this department of husbandry, which 

 by reason of its connection with the best interests of the farm, is one 

 of the greatest importance, and yet it is one which seems to be neg- 



