362 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



the seed germinatos well, if the earth is properly prepared ; but 

 as ours is colder than their native climate, it is necessary to use 

 some artificial heat. Soaking the seed in warm water will an- 

 swer the purpose, but a better method is to warm the soil by a 

 fire on the surface either before or after sowing. 



The willow on low marshy lands will rather improve the 

 grass than otherwise, and aff"ord a large quantity of wood, it 

 being of rapid growth. 



Very little has been done in this county in planting forest 

 trees until recently, and I am happy to know that enterprising 

 gentlemen are now making experiments by planting groves of 

 many kinds of our native as well as foreign varieties. On 

 most of the farms in our county there are patches of waste land 

 that might be profitably appropriated to the growing of wood, 

 and by planting trees on the sides of our highways, much val- 

 uable wood might be raised, our thoroughfares ornamented and 

 the public benefitted. 



Our crops of corn, grain, and vegetables have been greatly 

 increased by the improved mode of cultivation, which has in a 

 great degree been the fruits of our agricultural societies by col- 

 lecting and disseminating the results of experiments. 



The greatest deficiency of good husbandry of our field's of 

 grain and vegetables, is in permitting the weeds to grow and 

 seed the latter part of the season. The great length of time 

 required to harvest and secure fodder for our cattle during our 

 long winters, and which generally employs all hands in the 

 hay field, permits the weeds to get ahead of the hoe and culti- 

 vator, and assert the supremacy, so that many will be discour- 

 aged, and give up the contest, as described by the following 

 anecdote. 



An aged farmer in the town of liynn, had a potato patch, 

 some two miles from the homestead, and deferring to hoe at 

 the proper time, at last harnessed his horse, took his plough, 

 apparatus, and boy into his cart, and went to the field, for the 

 purpose of ploughing among his potatoes ; after unharnessing 

 his horse, and unloading his plough, he deliberately walked 

 around the field, carefully inspected it, but returned, harnessed 

 his horse, reloaded his plough, and taking a serious look over 



