50 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



enlarged upon the resources of the new lands in Frankin county. 

 He said in addition, that in comparing the condition of western 

 farmers with that of our own there were some things not always 

 taken into account. In the new settlements of the west, people 

 lived miserably. lie knew a well-to-do farmer in one of the west- 

 ern States who lived in a house containing but one room in which 

 a fiimil}^ of ten lodged. At the time he saw the man he was sick 

 and had a sick daughter ; but the sick and the well all slept in the 

 same room that contained the stove and the table. If our people 

 would submit to western discomforts, they could have western 

 success in Maine, without the drawbacks of bad health which emi- 

 grants from this State were pretty certain to find there. 



Mr. True said he supposed the reason why the northern part of 

 Maine is not settled as well as Vermont is, existed in the fact that 

 there were not sufficient road connections with Canada. The ex- 

 tension of such facilities would result in developing northern Maine, 

 and the policy should be encouraged. The superiority of this State 

 over the west in respect to health was one that should not bo lightly 

 regarded. Returned emigrants from the west generally look sallow 

 and weakly, while those who visit their old homes from the north- 

 ern sections of Maine bring back ruddy faces and strong limbs. 

 He was glad there was a prospect of increased facilities of commu- 

 nication. 



Mr. Wasson introduced the following resolves : 



Resolved, That in the opinion of this Board, the general practice 

 of farmers in Maine has been to cover manure too deeply in the 

 ground, and we recommend that surface manuring and top'-dressing 

 receive greater attention than hitherto. 



JResolved, That where needful to secure the introduction of thor- 

 ough-bred animals, it would be expedient for Societies to allow 

 them to compete for first class premiums more than one year. 



Resolved, That stock husbandry should become the leading fea- 

 ture of the agriculture of Maine, and that it should be the aim of 

 farmers to ascertain and select such breeds as are best adapted to 

 their circumstances and wants. 



Mr. Chandler tliought the first resolve touched a point of groat 

 importance, and one which needed more investigation. Two of 

 his neighbors, of equal intelligence, contested the point strongly. 

 One was sure that deep manuring was the true system. The other 

 contended as earnestly for surface dressing. He had found that 

 after plowing, the manure spread on the sward and harrowed in 



