6 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



merits. As a result partly of the interest awakened by this 

 means, the area devoted to the culture of Indian corn has 

 continued to increase, while more than usual attention has 

 been given to the culture of the sugar-beet with reference to 

 the manufacture of sugar; and this promises to open up a 

 new industry, which may hereafter grow up to some degree 

 of importance. It is understood that machinery has already 

 been ordered for one or two factories, which will at least test 

 the practicability of doing something in that direction to 

 supply the demand for an article of prime necessity in every 

 household. Some valuable investigations upon this crop will 

 be found on a subsequent page of this Report. 



The dairy may be said to constitute the leading interest of 

 this State. According to the last census, that of 1875, 

 while some of the old staple crops show a falling-off, the prod- 

 ucts of the dairy show a decided, and in many sections a 

 very large gain. This has been the tendency for some years 

 past, and it will probably continue to be so in the future. 

 It is not surprising, therefore, that great ingenuity has been 

 exerted to improve the methods of handling milk, and to 

 devise new contrivances for the raising of cream and the 

 manufacture of butter. Very considerable space has been 

 devoted to this subject in the following pages, to which ref- 

 erence is respectfully made. The Board has held its regular 

 public meetings as usual, and they were more largely at- 

 tended than ever before. An exhibition of butter and cheese 

 was held in connection with the meeting at Greenfield ; and 

 several hundred dollars were offered and distributed in pre- 

 miums, the awards being made by a committee of experts. 



The public meeting for lectures, essays, and discussions, 

 seems to be the most direct and efficient way of reaching a 

 large body of farmers. A social gathering where all meet 

 on the same footing, where questions are always in order, 

 and where many experienced farmers who may be regarded 

 as experts in various branches of farming are ready to im- 

 part their knowledge, and the results of their experience, 

 offers many advantages which no exhibition, however well 

 conducted, can possess. 



