AGRICULTURAL SURYEY 



OF 



so:meiiset county 



BY SAMUEL L. BOARDMAN. 



Introduction. 



In the present survey I have given an outline of the geography 

 and geology of Somerset county, together with some notice of its 

 agricultural capabilities and remarks upon its staple productions. 

 It has been my aim to render it as complete and reliable as possible, 

 and what has been stated as fact will be found correct. My own 

 views and suggestions have not been made without observation and 

 reflection, and will, I hope, receive that attention which they merit, 

 and no more. 



Some account of the geography and geology of the county has 

 been presented. A chapter upon meteorology also occupies a 

 place. I have found no one who has taken sufficient interest in the 

 matter to keep a record of the fall of rain, or of the temperature 

 in the county. What tables of this character I have inserted, were 

 furnished me by a gentleman connected with Waterville College, 

 and by Hon. R. H. Gardiner of Gardiner. Though not properly 

 belonging to this county, I have made use of them in the absence 

 of any such registers kept within the limits of Somerset. 



In speaking of the general practices of the husbandry in the 

 county, reference is made to the thirty incorporated towns. For 

 the information contained in that division of my subject relating to 

 the lands in the northern portion of the county, I am under obli- 

 gation to a gentleman well acquainted with the localities, and more 

 largely engaged in lumbering operations than any other person in 

 the county. With regard to the staple productions and the modes 

 of cultivation, I have sought information from the most authentic 

 sources, and from some of the most practical cultivators in the 

 county. The practices of farmers, even in doing the same thing, 

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