24 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



If the lands are made ready in the fall, there is no danger of the 

 crops suflering from frosts. 



Mr. Ilajden of the Somerset Central Society said their last fair 

 was a highly satisfactory one. Much interest is felt in horses and 

 neat stock. Three horses reared in his vicinity had recently been 

 sold for $1,200. Grades of Durham and Hereford were popular, 

 as largo oxen were needed for lumbering. Some thorough-bred 

 stock had been recently introduced. 



Mr. Davis of North Somerset said the Society had made good 

 progress, especially in stock raising. The breeds most prevalent 

 are the Durham and its grades. The Durham was by many con- 

 sidered too large. The Devons and Herefords had also been intro- 

 duced. He thought the Devon one of the best, if not the very best, 

 for his section. The Durham is large, open-built and tender, re- 

 quires warm stabling and good food. The Devon is smaller, more 

 compact, and more hardy. A cross of the two improves the size 

 of the latter and the form of the former. There had been great 

 efforts to obtain good sheep, and the improvement was very marked. 

 They had proved profitable, especially on farms where it was diffi- 

 cult to get hay enough for larger stock. The French and Spanish 

 Merinos, Cotswolds, and grades of Merino, had been found profit- 

 able. 



Crops had improved. Attention had been directed to preparing 

 and applying manures. Muck, composted with lime, salt and other 

 articles, had been applied on run-out farms with great effect, pro- 

 ducing good crops of corn and then of hay, showing how easily 

 exhausted farms may be brought up. The muck was hauled out 

 and spread over the barnyard, where it would absorb the liquids — 

 allowed to lay a year — was occasionally plowed, and top-soil, 

 leaves, straw and rotton wood mixed.with it. The manure should 

 be well pulverized and dry and spread in spring. 



Mr. Palmer of East Somerset said their Society was organized 

 over twenty years ago. Its shows went from town to town. Two 

 years ago they located, bought grounds, fenced llicin and graded a 

 track at a cost of $1,500. Had reduced the debt to $750. They 

 were well satisfied tluis far, and had been benefitted by location. 

 The composting of manures had received much attention. Decided 

 improvement was seen in stock. They had the Durham, Hereford 

 and D«von breeds. Have adopted tlie rule to lot one animal be 

 be entered for premium until driven off by a better. There was a 



