304 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



"We are proud of such stock, but prouder by far of the men 

 whose intelligence, energy and enthusiasm, have prompted them 

 to engage in so laudable an enterprise. 



Our climate is healthy, our homes are happy, our inhabitants 

 strong and industrious, faithful to their families, honest in deal- 

 ings, temperate in habit and true to their country ; blest with 

 noble sons, virtuous daughters, a clear conscience, a contented 

 mind and a reasonable hope for fourscore years and ten. 



M. F. Watkins. 



This Report was accepted, and the following was presented on 

 the 



AGRICULTURE OF BRISTOL. 



BY AVERT P. SLADE. 



In accordance with the vote of the Board, I herewith submit 

 such facts as occur to me in relation to the agriculture of Bristol 

 County. The .agriculture of Bristol County presents as great a 

 variety as can be found in any other county in the State. While 

 no particular crop is made a speciality, grass, corn, rye, oats, 

 barley, potatoes, turnips, and a creditable variety of fruit may 

 be found on almost every farm in the county. A marked 

 improvement in farm-husbandry is evinced by the earnest 

 efforts almost universally made, not only to increase the quan- 

 tity of manure, but to improve its quality, and also by the more 

 careful and judicious manner in which it is applied to the 

 growth of crops. A few years ago and the entire droppings of 

 a stock of cattle during winter were thrown out by the side of 

 the barn, to be washed by the rains and to be dried by the sun, 

 until the fertilizing properties were thoroughly extracted and 

 spirited away by the winds of heaven. Now almost every barn 

 — every new one, at least — has a cellar, which is made to receive 

 the droppings of the cattle, together with a liberal supply of 

 muck, loam or sand, which the hogs very readily and effectually 

 convert into excellent manure. The refuse of cities and large 

 towns is eagerly secured and hauled to the farm, leached ashes 

 by the cargo are brought from Maine, Long Island and Northern 

 New York, and large sums are annually spent for concentrated 

 fertilizers. 



