322 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Seth Scamman. After listening- to the very interesting address 

 by Professor Goodale, I have come to the conclusion that we farm- 

 ers are "left out in the cold," for every one knows, who knows any 

 thing about the matter, that ninety-nine out of a hundred of the 

 farmers of Maine have not the means, in the first place, to go into 

 these exact and elaborate experiments, and, in the next place, they 

 have not the time. We have but a short season in which to put 

 our seed into the ground, to nourish it, and to harvest the crop ; 

 we have to work all the time and give our whole attention to this 

 matter, and therefore we have not the time, even if we had the 

 means, to go into experiments, which we have seen here to-day it 

 is useless, perhaps, for us to go into unless we can somewhat in 

 the manner described to us. 



But, it may be a long time before we shall be able to realize what 

 the farmer needs to-day, if we wait for the Agricultural College or 

 for anybody else to make these experiments, and the question arises 

 "Can the farmers of Maine do anything towards advancing this 

 very important and essential matter in agriculture?" It strikes me 

 that although we may not be able to add materially to agricultural 

 science, we may still learn something for our own benefit, individu- 

 ally. For instance, we may not be able to go into an elaborate 

 investigation in regard to plaster, yet I believe that the farmers of 

 Maine may, by observation, determine the usefulness of this fertil- 

 izer on their own land. A farmer may use plaster on a given soil 

 and find it very beneficial. Now, if he carefully notes the kind of 

 s^l upon which it was used, and the circumstances as far as he can, 

 -although he may not be able to benefit his neighbors materially, he 

 'may perhaps apply plaster on his own farm successfully and bene- 

 ificialjy. For instance, take a stiff", heavy, clayey loam. I have had 

 vin the course of my life considerable experience in farming; I have 

 had a good deal to do with that kind of soil, and I have found 

 that the use of plaster, as a top-dressing, is advantageous. I have 

 never used it on that kind of soil when it has proved a failure, and 

 therefore I have come to the conclusion, tliat if I have a still", clayey 

 loam, naturally barren and unproductive, if I can throw broadcast 

 on that soil a coat of plaster, I am very sure the succeeding year 

 to harvest a rich, luxuriant crop of clover. I have never known 

 it to fiiil, and hence I conclude that plaster on that kind of soil is 

 the cheapest fertilizer that I can use. 



Then, again, I have used plaster on sandy soil, and I never saw 



