PREMIUMS ON REPORTS. 307 



this is a very exhausting crop, yet farmers are slow to abandon 

 it. Our soil and climate seem to be specially adapted to their 

 growth ; it is easily raised, requiring attention when most other 

 hoed crops arc out of the way, and yields a greater net profit 

 than any other which admits of planting so late in the season. 



I have been unable to collect any statistics in regard to blood- 

 stock. An earnest desire however seems to prevail among our 

 . farmers generally, to improve their stock, and the most of them 

 have so far " conquered their prejudices," as to be willing to 

 pay liberally for the services of a thoroughbred bull. Some 

 attention is given to the feeding of oxen for beef. This has 

 been done very successfully, if not always profitably. A pair fed 

 by Mr. Jonathan Slade, of Somerset, compared favorably with 

 the best, exhibited at the New England Fair at Concord. Mr. 

 Israel P. Bray ton, of the same town, is now feeding an ox raised 

 by himself, whose weight is 8,500 pounds, and is perhaps the 

 best ox in the State, if not the best in New England. 



Avery P. Slade. 



This Report was accepted. 



On motion of Mr. Davis, the following preamble and vote 

 were adopted : — 



WJiereas, The State Board of Agriculture is of the opinion 

 that the legislature intended, in return for the bounty granted 

 to the agricultural societies by the State, that the societies 

 should, by their printed reports, as well as by other means, fur- 

 nish to the people valuable information concerning the subjects 

 for which premiums are offered by them ; and 



Whereas, Their reports are generally deficient in this respect, 

 owing principally to the neglect of committees in elaborating 

 their reports to the societies by describing more fully the objects 

 in competition, the reasons of success or failure ; 



Voted, That the several agricultural societies receiving the 

 bounty of the State, be required hereafter to offer, annually, 

 three premiums of not less than eight, six and four dollars, 

 respectively, for the best reports of committees who recom- 

 mend the awards of premiums. 



