12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



"We have an excellent soil for farming, but the demand for hay 

 heretofore existing by our contiguity to the lumbei'ing business, 

 has operated injuriously by exhausting the farm ; but we are, I 

 think, recovering from this, and the farmers of Piscataquis are 

 becoming convinced that stock raising, more economical modes of 

 making and saving manures, and more thorough cultivation of the 

 soil, are indispensable to general success in farming. Many are 

 beginning to discover that they can by these means double the 

 crop per acre, and thus make a saving in expense and labor. We 

 have not, however, been able as yet, in the production of crops, to 

 reach so high a figure as some of our neighbors ; 60 to 80 bushels 

 of corn, same of oats, 50 to 60 of barley, 200 to 300 of potatoes, is 

 in truth about as high as we are able to report ; and I think but 

 few cut over two tons of hay to the acre. But if our neighbors 

 continue to raise 125 to 140 bushels of corn per acre and make it 

 profitable, we shall increase our efforts to approach that mark. 

 We regard farming as a science, and think we have seen some of 

 its benefits developed by practice in our community to such an 

 extent, that it has divested us measurably of prejudices against 

 book farming and agricultural periodicals, which are now studied 

 with much interest ; and the annual reports of the Secretary of this 

 Board considered indispensable. .And we cannot be insensible to 

 the fact that the information thus derived in regard to agricultural 

 improvements awakens energy in practice, new desires for more 

 extensive knowledge, a love i'or the employment, operating as a 

 moving power to the main body, approximating a more perfect 

 system. 



Mr. Moulton of West Oxford stated that the show of last year 

 was good, except as to fruit. The exhibition of stock was fine. The 

 Devons prevail and are preferred over Durhams, as better adapted 

 to that section. A brood called the Uungarian was introduced 

 about tlirce years ago, and is regarded by the best judges with 

 great favor. They are small, of sweetened milk color, good milk- 

 ers, calculated for sharp and close grazing, and seem to know how 

 to get their living where pasturage is poor. 



Near the foot of the Wliitc Mountains there was much bog land 

 suitable for cranberry raising. Ex-Governor Bana owned a large 

 tract, from wliicli he could make more money by raising cranber- 

 ries than lie could as ^Minister at Bogota. The soil in his section 

 was adapted to rniit and stock. They were deficient in swine and 

 sheep. Their sheep came from Canada and were the coarse wool 



