SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



218 



Our farmers and cattle owners may urge that the climate and soil 

 of Maine, the value of lands, and so forth, preclude the adoption of 

 a system so radically differing from our prevailing mode, however 

 plausible it may appear from data drawn from the customs adopted 

 by the force of circumstances, in the densely peopled countries of 

 Europe. It is my purpose to furnish for your use, a few pages, in 

 which I shall aim to present this subject fairly, and as fully as my 

 limited time and the opportunities at hand may allow. The facts and 

 the reasonings of farmers of this country, and in Europe, will be 

 presented in brief, with the hope that they may attract attention, 

 and lead many to adopt this mode, fully or partially, at once. 



I have some personal experience in this matter. For the last 

 eight years, I have, as a farmer, occupied but a few acres, unpro- 

 ductive at first, — and have kept two cows and a horse, and for a part 

 of the time, three cows and two horses ; and during the whole of 

 this time, my cattle have not for a single week obtained their full 

 living by pasturage ; and for the most part of each summer, but a 

 small portion of it. 



Having thus partially adopted the soiling system, in my own 

 practice, I have been led to examine and inquire into its practical 

 workings elsewhere. What I have here accomplished, on the soil, 

 and under the climate of Maine, is to me reliable data for future 

 operations, and has enabled me to draw just conclusions, touching 

 the theory and practice of those whose operations have been laid 

 open to the public. 



The system, like the progress of abiding truth, has, almost silently, 

 for a long time, been working its way into favor in many localities 

 over our extended country. In the valley of the Connecticut, and 

 some other rivers, it is much practiced, from the circumstance that 

 the broad intervales are annually denuded of all fences by the floods. 



The advocates of soiling, claim to have established the truth of 

 these six propositions : 



1st. The saving of land. 



2d. The saving of fencing. 



8d. The economising of food. 



4th. The better condition and greater comfort of the cattle. 



5th. The greater product of milk. 



6th. The attainment of manure. 



