1869. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



151 



better fed and clothed, and educational priv- 

 ileges are greatly increased, and with them a 

 taste for reading. Agricultural, and other 

 daily or weekly papers, are generally read by 

 the farming population. Music and the means 

 of social improvement are much more common 

 than in the past generation. And yet there is 

 probably no better farming now than could 

 have been found in exceptional instances 

 twenty years ago. But the improvement is 

 now more general. The example of the pro- 

 gressive men has been imitated by the mass. 

 That which was looked upon as a doubtful ex- 

 periment a few years ago is now adopted as 

 the common practice. What was the excep- 

 tion is now the rule. 



We will refer to a few of the more obvious 

 causes to which these changes for the better 

 are due. The encouragement afforded to ag- 

 riculture by the State, and the tfforts of agri- 

 cultural associations, have done much to bring 

 them about. Much is due to the great im- 

 provements which have been made in the me- 

 chanic arts, by which farm implements have 

 been multiplied and materially improved. 

 Work is now done by them more easily, 

 more rapidly, and more perfectly. This has 

 contributed greatly to facilitate labor and re- 

 lieve the drudgery of the farm. We are dis- 

 posed to attribute the improved condition of 

 farming very largely to this cause. 



But the increased and increasing intelligence 

 of all classes of the community, and the greater 

 attention that is paid to the natural sciences 

 and the application of science to art, are the 

 great causes that are bringing about these re- 

 sults. Books, periodicals, discussions in far- 

 mers' clubs, and above all, the agricultural pa- 

 pers have awakened the attention of the agri- 

 cultural community, and given to the minds of 

 farmers an activity formerly unknown. Other 

 causes have had much influence, such as greater 

 facilities of transportation, local markets grow- 

 ing out of the manufacturing establishments 

 which have sprung up in every part of the 

 State, and better prices for all descriptions of 

 produce. These render agriculture more im- 

 mediately remunerative, and have led to im- 

 portant changes in the prbduets, as well as in 

 the methods of culture. 



MAINE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The annual session of this Board commenced 

 at Augusta, January 20th. The meetings 

 of this Board have for several years past been 

 conducted with a plan and system far in ad- 

 vance of those of any other agricultural Board 

 or association of farmers in the country. 

 They are continued through two weeks. At 

 the morning session of the first day the fol- 

 lowing elections were made : — 



Pi-esiilent — Hon. Samuel 'WasBon of Ellsworth. 

 Vice President — Hon. Heth Scammon of Soarboro'. 

 Secretary— a. L. Goodale of Saco. 

 Messenger — A. R. Boardman of South Norridgework. 



The last Maine Farmer contains a report of 

 the proceedings of the first five days' session, 

 during which essays were had on a great varie- 

 ty of subjects, generally followed by discus- 

 sions. 



In connection with the regular meetings of the 

 Board, there were this year a Potato Exhibition, 

 the annual meeting of the State Agricultural 

 Society, and a general Farmers' Convention, 

 on the plan of the New Hampshire meeting, 

 all of which occurred during the two weeks' ses- 

 sion of the State Board. 



At the annual meeting of the State Agricul- 

 tural Society the following officers were elect- 

 ed for the ensuing year : — 



President — Hon. Peth Scammon, Scarboro', 

 S cretary—B. L Boardman, Augusta, 

 Treasurei — Wm. E. Moril:», Ponlaiid. 

 Trustees— "W&Tran Ptrcival, Vassilboro', Samuel 

 WaBson, Ellsworth. 



It is said that there are 5000 species of but- 

 terflies known to naturalists, 900 of which are 

 inhabitants of North America. 



For the New England Farmer, 



FAIRFIELD, ME. 



FarmB — Buildings— 8' ock — Top-dressing with Sheep^ 

 Seed Potatoes — Use of touperphosphate, &c. 



This township is situated on the west side of 

 the Kennebec river, and is one of the southern 

 towns in Somerset County. Its area is about 

 48 square miles. The surface is generally 

 quite level, though the western part is some- 

 what rocky ; but the fat sheep which are raised 

 there suggest the old proverb, "The nearer 

 the bone the sweeter the meat." 



Generally the farms are good and the build- 

 ings substantial, — many of them tasty and 

 furnished with modern conveniences, not to 

 say luxuries. The barns are large, well ar- 

 ranged, and filled with hay, grain, &c., and 

 with all kinds of stock, of the best kinds. 

 Farmers here very justly pride themselves on 

 raising nicely-matched and well-trained work- 

 ing oxen. Their other stock is also very fine. 

 One man in North Fairfield, Mr. T. Janes, 

 told me that he sold a two-year-old steer that 

 dressed 1300 lbs., and a heifer of the same 

 age for $00. He has now an April calf that 

 girths 4 feet 10 inches. His cattle are all of 



