306 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



port, I discussed them at some length, and my successor, Mr. W. W. Stevens, in 

 the report for last year, entered into a very intelligent, comprehensive and well- 

 arranged dii^cussion of the principal topics. I think I may, without egotism, 

 commend both these reports to consideration. 



Fred L. Pbow, 

 -Secretory. 



WAYNE COUNTY. 



The Wayne County Agricultural and Horticultural Society, in making its ex- 

 hibit in September last, was surrounded by very discouraginsr circumstances, which 

 operated against its success. The excessive drouth, the political campaign, and the 

 length of time since the last exhibition were the principal ones. However, we 

 Succeeded beyond our expectations in the numbvr and character of the articles 

 competing for premiums, which seems to have e.stablished a fact to the satisfaction 

 of a number of our enterprising farmers, whieh I consider of great importance, 

 namely, that the effect of the drouth was to a large extent overcome by the exten- 

 sive underdraining, not only of wet lands, but of the clay lands of our county. 

 There Mere but few fields of wheat or corn that approximated an average crop, ex- 

 cept where they were underdrained. From the experience and observation of the 

 past season, many of our farmers have come to the conclusion that to counteract 

 the effect of wet weather, or of dry weather, they must underdrain their land. 

 Timber growing in Wayne county is becoming an object of importance among her 

 farmers and horticulturists. Hundreds of acres of land that have had the timber 

 cut off, slaughtered I might say, and located in such a way that it can not be con- 

 veniently cultivated, is now in fine condition for being planted to timber that 

 within the limits of the present generation will become very valuable. A few 

 farmers have planted groves of catalpa and other valuable kinds of timber, and are 

 protecting them by inclosures. 



Jos. C. Eatliff, 



SecreUiry. 



