DIGEST OF STATE REPORTS. 491 



done than is usual in tliis latitude. Though wheat was generally sown 

 in that month, and in some places oats to a limited extent, there was 

 but little planting, and far less broad-casting of seed than usual until 

 after the first week in May. There were heavy rains about this time, 

 which were followed by drought. Much of the seed planted failed to 

 germinate, and many fields of corn were replanted at so late a date as 

 to expose the crops to the influences of September frosts. The effects 

 of this drought of three or four weeks' duration cut off the first crop of 

 early vegetables, and proved very disastrous to market gardeners. 

 The early grass crop also suffered seriously. It ripened at a time whei} 

 the corn crop needed most attention ; but small as the crop was, the 

 farmer found it necessary to save it to the neglect of his other crops. 

 The yield was from 15 to 20 per cent, less than the year previous, not- 

 withstanding the crop of 1870 was remarkably meager. There was 

 about an average crop of wheat and oats ; barley and rye were culti- 

 vated, but to a limited extent ; buckwheat and India wheat were re- 

 garded as non-compensating products; Indian corn, notwithstanding 

 all the dravrbacks of an unfavorable spring, was about an average crop ; 

 peas and beans yielded well, while the potato crop was large and gen- 

 erally of excellent quality. Other root-crops were abundant, while the 

 fruit crop, especially apples, was almost a failure. 



The State of New Hampshire is composed of 2,319,830 acres of im- 

 proved land, aud about twice that amount of unimproved. The last 

 report of the suj)erintendent of the census showed that there were 

 within the State 37,247 horses, 200,080 neat cattle, 255,047 sheep, and 

 32,041 swine. The value of this stock is now estimated at $16,000,000. 



The board held twenty sessions during the year. Included in this 

 number were those for the transaction of official business, which were 

 few, and those arranged especially for public discassions, which consti- 

 tuted by far the greater proportion. The meetings for public discus- 

 sions were held at different points in the State, and were generally well 

 attended by the fiirmers of the neighborhood, who took great interest 

 in the discussions. At the meeting held at Concord Mr. S. C. Pattee 

 addressed the board on the subject of wheat culture. As the result of 

 many experiments he gave the following, as X)erhaps among the most 

 successful, with the China Tea variety : On two acres of land not ex- 

 ceedingly fertile, some of it dry knolls, and some once very wet but 

 now drained, he raised 45 bushels of wheat from four bushels of seed. 

 The cost of the crop, including interest on land at $75 per acre, one- 

 fourth cost of manure, and all other expenses, was $02.40. The value 

 of the wheat and straw was 8110, leaving a balance on the profit side 

 of $47.C0. The flour, which was regarded by good judges as v.'orth 

 $10 per barrel, cost him $6.90, including toll aud carrying to mill. 



Mr. Pattee gives the following as his method of raising wheat: 



My method of raising wheat has been, uutil recently, on the " old plan," the same as 

 that practiced by my father a,nd grandfather before me, for the last seventy-five years, 

 and probably by most New England farmers at the i^reseut time ; which is to apply all 

 the manure to the corn crop, after which to sow wheat and grass-seed. This course is 

 not objectionable on farms where the rotation will not e::i:cecd six years. It is also 

 ai^plicable on farms that contain a large proportion of natural meadow. It is objection- 

 able on my farm, as the rotation will require at least eight years. I have learned this 

 fact : the oftener I can turn under a good rich sod, the better the laud produces. There- 

 fore I am adopting a method that gives me a rotation of five years. I break up in the 

 fall as lafe as possible; the next spring plant corn without manure, except special 

 fertilizers in the hill, either home-made or commercial. As soon as the corn is oli", cart 

 on from five to six cords per acre, and plow it in. In the spring, as soon as the 

 ground will admit of working, I take Ford's horse-hoo and give it a good cultivating, 

 sow the wheat two bushels to the acre, harrow both ways, pick ofi' the loose stones, 

 roll it down, and otherwise prepare it for the mowing-machine. The field should not 



