40 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



it is, we must learn what microbes to admit and what to ex- 

 clude from the fermenting leaf, and what are the conditions, 

 as regards heat, moisture and air supply, which are favor- 

 able to the kind which we want and unfavorable to other 

 harmful kinds of fermentation. 



This will all come in good time, but we want it to come 

 first and best in New England. Competition is strong 

 within and without our own country, and we want to remem- 

 ber that neither an established reputation nor an established 

 trade, nor a protective tariff can protect us against goods 

 of superior quality from without. The sure way to keep 

 our trade is by constant advance in the matter of economies 

 in labor, and in marketing our crop ; in methods of grow- 

 ing, curing and fermenting ; in all knowledge, in short, 

 which has any bearing on our particular line of business, — 

 the growing of wrapper leaf tobacco. 



The Chairman. You have heard the able address, and it 

 seems as though the subject was almost exhausted, but Dr. 

 Jenkins invites your questions. We hope some of the ex- 

 periences of the experts of this vicinity may be given. To 

 illustrate : A daughter goes away to school and her mother 

 advises her to write home all about everything there. She 

 writes a long, exhaustive letter, and then says, "If you 

 wish to know anything more, ask questions." So the meet- 

 ing is yours. 



Dr. J. B. Lindsey (of Amherst). Had that fish very 

 much oil in it? 



Dr. Jenkins. It was the ordinary dry fish scrap that is 

 used as a fertilizer. I suppose it would have fifteen per 

 cent of oil. 



Question. That oil did not seem to have any effect ? 



Dr. Jenkins. No, it did not. 



Mr. . I have heard it claimed that it was very valu- 

 able as a fertilizer. 



Dr. Jenkins. Yes, you will find plenty of the farmers 

 along the shore who claim that it makes a good fertilizer, 

 that it makes a "slick" crop. They say they do not care 

 anything about the nitrogen. 



