12 NORTH KENNEBEC SOCIETY. 



missed the butter and cheese, as well as the household manufac- 

 tures of the good housewives of Winslow, Vassalboro', Albion, and 

 other thriving towns beyond the Kennebec. 



Our opening " Farmers' Levee," however, was a very pleasant 

 occasion, as indeed it always is, to which Misses Addie Smith 

 and Emily Phillips, two of Waterville's sweetest singers, and 

 Messrs. Cumston, Tilden, Willey and Matthews, of Colby Uni- ' 

 varsity, kindly contributed some delightful music. 



The department of Fine Arts, usually so full with us, was saved 

 from almost total failure this year by a brilliant and expensive dis- 

 play of photographs, plain and colored, from the establishment of 

 Mr. C. G. Carleton of Waterville, who has probably no superior 

 in his specialty in the State. 



Our receipts this year fall below our expenditures, but having 

 " saved something for a rainy day," we are able to meet all de- 

 mands on the treasury without borrowing. 



Under the direction of the officers of this Society, two Farmers' 

 Clubs have been formed within the Society's limits — both taking 

 the same name, " North Kennebec Farmers' Club," but the one 

 upon the east side of Kennebec river being designated as the 

 " Eastern Division," and that upon the west side as the "Western 

 Division." Thej'^ have started vigorously, and bid fair to flourish 

 and bring forth good fruit. In forming these Clubs, the officers of 

 the Society have acted in obedience to the directions of the Board 

 of Agriculture, and in accordance to certain votes passed at a late 

 session of the Board, which, very wisely as we judge, provided 

 for the expenditure of a shax-e of the State's bounty in this way. 



Season and Crops. — The past year has been marked by disasters 

 through fire, tempest and flood, and the summer was unusually 

 cold and dry ; yet the former has had a fair return for his labor, 

 and as he looks around and compares his condition with that of his 

 neighbors engaged in other pursuits, he will find small cause for 

 envy or discontent. 



The early spring was favorable for getting in seed, but not all 

 were ready to do it ; and a succeeding period of wet weather 

 seriously embarrassed most farmers, particularly in planting corn. 

 Then the crop had to contend with the cold and drought of the 

 summer, and in consequence was light, though it was eventually 

 much better than it Avas supposed it could be before harvesting. 

 Potatoes, too, suffered from late planting and drought, and in 



