SECRETARY'S REPORT. 173 



quires a certain quantity of food to make up for the daily waste 

 occasioned by the animal functions. If he has no more than this, 

 he does not progress— ;-the more he can convert into fat and flesh 

 beyond this required amount, in a stated period, the more profita- 

 ble he will be. In the same pasture one creature will give a rea- 

 sonable profit, while another may cause an actual loss. Thus, the 

 adaptation of the stock to the nature of the pasture is an object of 

 the greatest importance and one that calls for much experience and 

 judgment. 



It is a general custom to pasture horses, cattle and sheep to- 

 gether in the same lot, where a farmer makes no speciality of de- 

 voting his farm to a particular branch of stock raising. If sheep 

 are more largely kept in certain districts, they are pastured sepa- 

 rately ; but if only a small flock, they run with the other farm 

 stock. It has been regarded as advantageous to the pasture, and 

 also to the thrift of the stock, to allow all kinds to graze together, 

 thus keeping it well fed ; for one animal will eat the grass refused 

 by another, and all will then be kept in good condition, (if the 

 pasture be not overstocked,) and no superfluous vegetation can 

 grow. The plan of changing cattle from one pasture to another, 

 at successive periods, has much to recommend it over that of 

 suffering them to range upon the whole extent of pasture land ; 

 but it has not been practised, as I am aware, in a single instance 

 by any farmer in the county. 



I think this subject is one neglected alike by farmers themselves 

 and by County Agricultural Societies. If liberal premiums were 

 ofiered by them for the best managed experiments in renovating 

 exhausted pasture lands, much good would undoubtedly grow out 

 of it. It is an object which should receive their attention. 



2. — Indian Corn. 



This is the most important crop raised in the county, and its 

 production is increasing, owing, in part, to the fact that wheat is 

 not generally cultivated, and farmers must depend upon this staple 

 as a substitute, and also as a crop to exchange for flour. At the 

 present time, the value of the corn raised in the county, is esti- 

 mated at $200,000 per year. With the aid of improved imple- 

 ments of culture and a higher system of manuring, the average 

 amount per acre has largely increased during the past twenty years, 

 but even now it cannot be estimated at more than twelve bushels 

 to the acre, although in some instances, thirty and even fifty bush- 



