5 
of sowing is reported in York, Lincoln, Waldo, and Piscataquis, “ May first ;” 
Somerset, ‘‘ May ;” Sagadahoe, “last of April ;” and others indefinitely, “ April 
and May.” ‘Timeof harvesting, York and Lincoln, “ August ;” Waldo, « August 
ist to 15th ;” Sagadahoe, Penobscot and Oxford, « August ;” Kennebec, “ early 
in September ;” Somerset, “ September.” 
It is significant that most of the counties expressly report ‘“ none” of the 
wheat drilled, while no county is credited with any portion of the crop as 
drilled. ; 
The crop is almost exclusively spring wheat. In Cumberland, within a few 
years, premiums have been paid on forty bushels per acre; ‘twenty-five or 
thirty years ago wheat was one of the most profitable crops of this county, but 
its culture was at one time almost abandoned, owing to the ravages of the weevil, 
but its disappearance has encouraged some farmers to attempt its cultivation 
again.” 
6. The cost of pasturage varies greatly in the different sections of the State. 
The highest rate reported is $8 per head for six months; in Penobscot and 
Lincoln, $6 50; Cumberland, $6; Sagadahoe and Lincoln, $5 for five months; 
Somerset, $4 for six months. Pasturage for sheep is placed at fifty cents per 
month in Oxford county. About seven months feeding per year is required— 
from the end of October to the end of May. Red top, white clover and June 
grass, with other grasses, furnish the summer pasturage. 
7. Apples are produced abundantly and cheaply throughout the State. A 
correspondent in Oxford mentions a small orchard from which $800 has been 
received. In Lincoln, instances of a yield of 200 bushels per acre are given, 
with a net profit of $50. 
Hardy varieties of pears and grapes are grownin thesouthern counties. The 
Hartford Prolific, Concord, Delaware and Creveling, if laid down and covered 
in the winter, have ripened and yielded well. 
NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
The returns of this month from New Hampshire are unusually meagre, rep- 
resenting but three counties—a fact to be deplored, as many facts concerning 
special industries, and mineral and other resources would be interesting. 
1. The increase in the value of farms is stated at 15 per cent. in’ Cheshire 
county; 10 per cent. in Sullivan and Belknap. The tendency, however, in the 
latter is said to be downward. 'The increase is generally attributed to the cur- 
rency and the activities induced by the war. The growth of manufacturing has 
had a tendency to render farm property more valuable, but this extension enlarged 
the labor demand and raised the price to such an extent that farmers could not 
compete, and farms are neglected. But the difficulty is owing to spasmodic 
rather than healthy increase of manufacturing, and in a still greater degree to 
the emigration of the farming class to the rich lands of the west, making effi- 
cient farm labor scarce and high. 
2. In Belknap the value of unimproved lands varies from $10 to $75 per 
acre. Manufacturing villages of recent growth and the building of lines of 
railroads have wonderfully increased the value of wood or pasture lands in imme- 
diate proximity, which were previously of little value. In Cheshire an average 
of $25 per acre is noted, the most valuable furnishing timber and hemlock bark. 
Wild lands in Sullivan are generally rocky and hard, much of it upon hills and 
mountains, more remote from railroads, and are worth about $5 per acre. If 
cleared up they would be of some Value for grazing purposes. 
4. No specialties of importance are reported. Hay in most sections is the 
principal crop. In some localities potatoes are extensively and profitably grown 
for shipment. 
5. Spring wheat is almost exclusively grown. The varieties are almost as 
