16 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



practice of agriculture. Crops had improved materially and so had 

 stock. They had Devons, Durhams and other improved breeds, 

 some remarkably large. Root crops for cattle feed were receiving 

 much attention. 



The receipts and expenditures of the Society were steadily in- 

 creasing, and their debt was being paid off. The coulter harrow 

 had been introduced, and he deemed it a great improvement on 

 the one formerly in use. 



Mr. Norton of Waldo, said that Society was organized in 1847. 

 The amount of receipts last year, was $491.80. The interest in 

 agriculture and especially in stock raising, has increased, and the 

 cattle have improved 33 per cent, at least. Buildings, particularly 

 bams, have been greatly improved. In the saving of manures and 

 of food for stock improvement is manifest. 



He knew one farm, which at the time the Society was organized, 

 had only a log cabin upon it and could have been bought for $600 ; 

 now the farm and buildings would bring from $4,000 to $5,000. 

 It then cut 30 tons of hay, now over 100 tons, besides some 3,000 

 bushels of esculent roots, 300 bushels of barley, 300 bushels of oats, 

 60 bushels of wheat, and 150 bushels of corn. $1,500 of last year's 

 products would be sold from this farm. This change has been 

 greatly owing to the influence of the Society. 



Top dressing was extensively practiced, and mowing fields were 

 fed less than formerly. 



Mr. Porter reported the^ Washington County Society in a flour- 

 ishing condition. Shows were held at two other places also, the 

 past year. Devons have been introduced, and arc highly esteemed. 

 Of horses, there was a good show, chiefly of Black Ilawk and 

 Messenger blood. 



Mr. Rogers reported the Sagadahoc Society as steadily prosper- 

 ous from its organization to the present time. Stock had increased 

 in value fifty per cent. The Devons and Jerseys had been lately 

 introduced. Their exhibitions they felt could not be dispensed 

 with. The time and labor expended on them were well spent and 

 paid rich returns. Several farmers' clubs had been instituted, one 

 of which had weekly meetings, and had lectures from distinguished 

 agriculturists. 



Mr. Reed said the people of Lincoln county were not very largely 

 devoted to agricultural pursuits ; many were engaged in commer- 

 cial pursuits, shijibuilding, fishing, Sec. Previous to 1855, com- 

 paratively little attention was paid to agriculture along the sea 



