SECRETAET'S REPORT. 7 



and in all the State devour, annually, more than $100,000 worth of 

 property, and within our houses, deal out fleas continually, and 

 hydrophobia occasionally. In all seriousness, we ask our brother 

 farmers — ought not the man who keeps a dog, to pay a tax upon 

 him rather than upon a sheep, or twenty of them ? Would not 

 such a change in the assessment of taxes be the means of increas- 

 ing greatly the number of sheep, and result in a great increase to 

 the wealth of our State ?" 



Mr. Anderson enlarged upon the suggestion quoted. The pit- 

 tance which now results from taxing sheep was nothing compared 

 to the great amount of saving from the taking off the dogs. More- 

 over there is not a little feeling among poor farmers on the subject 

 of taxing sheep, and many a man refuses to keep them from this 

 cause. The fact that a dog, whose owner holds him worth $50, is 

 untaxed, while the poor man's sheep, which the same dog worries, 

 is the subject of taxation, operates with no good effect. Let the 

 dog, which is almost always a neighborhood nuisance and an of- 

 fence to every passer-by, give place to a better animal. 



Mr. Xoyes, of the Bangor Horticultural Society, said that it was 

 in a flourishing condition, and increasing in influence. It had a 

 show last autumn, which considering the season, was unusually 

 good. The exhibition of plums was not so good as usual, but 

 other fruits appeared well, and especially apples, which were mag- 

 nificent. One man exhibited sixty varieties, and finer ones Mr. 

 N. never saw, although he had visited many shows. Pears were 

 very fair, though not so good as in some seasons. Vegetables 

 were remarkably good, squashes in particular, specimens of which 

 were the best he ever saw. The Hubbard squash was particularly 

 promising. Many people had abandoned the Marrowfat for the 

 Hubbard. The latter were better for keeping, and better for pies 

 also. 



Mr. Chandler of Franklin said he had been a member of their 

 County Agricultural Society twelve to fifteen years ; and at first 

 not much interest was generally felt — eight or ten years ago mem- 

 bers became more active. A change was made in their exhibitions 

 which increased the interest felt, and about the same time a small 

 fee was charged for admission, though many doubted its expedi- 

 ency. It worked well, however, and in a few years the amount so 

 received paid the incidental expenses of the show and fair — some 

 $t0 or $80. Two years ago a permanent place for the shows was 

 selected. Land was leased for twenty years, and proper arrange- 



