92 NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL ' ing and husbandry in general, and tliereby to in- 

 MEETING. crease the annual profits, elevate the character, 



The Committee appointed by the Executive ' and extend the influence of those who are engaged 

 Committee of the Cumberland Jisrrkultural and • in these interesting and important pursuits, j 

 Horticultural Socitty, to select the place and make It is anticipated that another year will erfable 

 all requisite arrangements for the First Annual Ex- j the Society to hold out such cncouragement,land 



October 3, 1832. 



hibition of said Society, submit to their associate I to offer such premiums as will embrace n 

 members and fellow ci'tizeus the following report. , all objects of agricultural iiiiprovenicnts and o: 



The Annual Exhibition, as appointed by the j mestic industry and manufacture, and simull ne- 

 laws of the Society, will be holdcn in Westbrook, ously serve to demonstrate the Society's own f os- 

 on Wednesday the 17th day of October next.— perous condition, and to advance the great ur- 

 The place selected for the purpose is at and near poses of the coinmou welfare for which it has hen 

 Mr Stevens's public house, iu the initnediate vi- projected. 



cinity of Woodford's corner. This locality is be- j But the interests which our farmers and h( -ti- 

 lieveJ to combine more advantages for the geu- culturists shall this year manifest in behalf of he 

 eral accommodation of the Agricultural citizens enterprise thus formed for their common ben fit, 

 of the county, than any other place that could be will operate very sensibly to encourage or disci ,ir- 

 selected, and es|)ecially in regard to travel. It is age, according as it shall be spirited or lang id, 

 most central, and on the great thoroughfare to, and the labors ofihose upon whom the principal la- 

 in the immediate neighborhood of the Portland bor in it must necessarily devolve, viz. the ac ve 

 market, where the stock and produce of the hus- members and officers of the Society. As lis 

 bandnian are ordinarily carried for sale. All per- truth must address itself home so readily to he 

 sons llierefore, who have occasion to visit Port- understanding of every good citizen farmer in he 

 land on either pleasure or business, will find hut county, nothing need be added to convince hin of 

 little inconvenience in attending the Exhibition at the propriety of his regarding and making la 

 this place. And as there may be a [jiihlic sale as matter of both i)leasuie and business to devjte 

 well as a most favorable opportunity for private one day in the year which has been appointedlto 

 sales, of such stock, produce, and domestic manu- the interesting purposes of this Society. Tfey 

 facturcs as may be brought into and entere<l for are, one and all, respectfully advised and invled 

 the Exhibition, those who have articles of the to do so. | 



kind to dispose of will probably find it for their j The premiums voted by the Executive Comfcit- 

 interest to make it even their special business to tee to be awarded at the approaching exhibil^n, 

 attend on the occasion, and add their proper share are as follows 



of encouragement to the enterprise 



Every accommodation practicable will be pro- 

 vided for persons who shall attend with a view of 

 advancing the designs of the institution. Conve- 

 nient rooms for the exhibition of articles of do- 

 mestic raauufacluie, or roots, fruits, &c, &c, and 

 suitable pens for cattle and other live slock will 

 be prepared. 



It is also expected that an Address, explanatory 

 of the designs, utility and ])ractical operation of 

 the Society will be delivered on the occasion. A 

 public dinner, for such members of the Society as 

 choose to unite in it, will likewise be prepared 



■-' 50 

 5 



For the best yoke of working oxen, JlO 



" " best specinten of butter, in a quantity 



not less than 20 lbs. 

 " " best cheese not less than 30 lbs. 

 " " best old cider, not less than 1 bbl. 

 " " best currant wine, in quantity not 

 less than six bottles, made without 

 the use of ardent spirits, 

 " " best milch cow, 

 " " best bull, native or iinported, not 



exceeding two years old, 5 



Suitable premiums will also be awarded for 

 specimens of apples, pears and grapes, and also 

 The Society being in its infancy, and its mode for other articles of produce, and of domestic 

 of procedure but partially matured, the Exhihi- manufacture, which shall in the opinion, of the 

 tion for the present season cannot be expected to Executive committee be of superior quality, or 

 aflTord the immediate and extensive interest to ei- skill. 



ther the members of the society) or the public, But no pretnium will be awarded for any urti- 

 which is confidently contemplated for the future, cle which shall not be of a superior quality, and 

 The first organization of the Society was too late of the growth or manufacture of this county ex- 

 in the curient season to hold out pecuniary in- cepting on stock already specified, 

 ducements, in the shape of premiums, for our far- 1 All persons having any improved agricultural 

 mers and horticulturists to enter into competition or horticultural implement or machinery, or im- 

 with each other for the promotion of their com- proved stock of cattle, sheep or swine, or any 

 mon cause under the regulations and guidance of roots, pl.ints, culinary vegetables or fruits of a su- 

 the Society, or to make formal reports of their perior quality or growth, are invited to enter them 

 success in any attempted improvements in their , for exhibition and sale. 



crops, stocks, or other branches ofindustry. The 

 consequence could not be otherwise than that a 

 very few piemiums only can at this meeting be 

 offered, consistently with either the state of the 

 funds, or the general design of the institution. 



It is, however, of primary importance, that our 

 agricultural citizens should improve this approach- 

 ing opportunity to make themselves acquainted 

 with the objects, great lUility and operation ol the 

 society ; and by their prompt attendance and spir- 

 ited cooperation, stimulate its niemhcrs and each 



other in the laudable endeavor to widen the cir- Who has no friend and no enemy, is one of the 

 culatioa of useful knowledge relating to garden- vulgar; without talents,, power or energy. 



A written account of the articles or subjects of 

 premium will be required of thosAwho propose 

 to compete for the honors of the Society. 



New members will also be admitted at this 

 meeting of the Society. And all persons desir- 

 ous of admission are invited to attend. 

 SETH CLARK, 

 FRANCIS O. J. SMITH, 

 NATHANIEL WARREN. 

 Westbrook, Sept. 18, 1832. 



Fnim the Massacliusetts Agricultural Kepositury. 



STIRRING THE EARTH A RELIEF 

 AGAINST DROUGHT. 



This is a trite subject, and one, which we are 

 aware has been long since settled by intelligent 

 cultivators in all countries. It is very familiar to 

 gardeners, and the cause of the very superior pro- 

 ductions of gardens over field culture may be at- 

 tributed in part to the more frequent application, 

 of the hoe and spade. Yet it is true, that a very 

 great number of farmers deny the proposition, and 

 disapprove the practice. They think it danger- 

 ous to plough and hoe, in the time of extreme 

 drought and heat, while our own experience of 

 twenty years has convinced us, that it is much su- 

 perior as a remedy, against drought, than water- 

 ing in the limited manner, in which that must al- 

 ways be applied. There has never been a season 

 in our memory in which there was gieater neces- 

 sity for the application of all remedies against 

 drought than the ;)rfj!C)i<. The drought was not 

 only of longer duration, but it took ])lacc, when 

 plants were the lca.«t able to resi.st it, not having 

 sent their roots in quest of nourishment far, wide, 

 and deep. The early foliage, also, is more tender 

 and more liable to wilt under a scorching sun and 

 a drying wind. 



In this extraordinary season, I had a small 

 patch of early potatoes planted in a warm and 

 sandy soil purposely to procure an early crop ; 

 the soil was, at Ica.st, three quarters pure sand, 

 mixed with some food for plants among Mhe sand. 

 The severe drought threaetned a total loss of the 

 cro[). Tha'polato stalks were feeble, drawn up, 

 scarcely la^er than goose quills, and I expected 

 every day to see them wither ; all hopes of a crop 

 were abandoned. I thought that they were the 

 Air subjects of a desperate experiment. On one 

 oMlie hottest and driest days, I gave them a thor- 

 oigh ploughing, jtassing the plough four limes 

 though each row ; first ploughing two furrows 

 fnm the hills, as near the roots as possible, vvith- 



011 throwing out the seed potatoes, and then re- 

 tcning the loam, or earth, instantly hack by two- 



ler furrows. No rain intervened for ten days. 

 Ii three days after, the potatoes changed their 

 c lor, thoy started afresh as if they had received 

 th benefit of ample showers, while not a drop of 

 r n had fallen. 



The di;ws, which were abundant, settled upon 



1 2 new turned earth, while before the ploughing, 

 11 moisture had been apparent. 



The last fact, though it cannot have escaped 

 t e notice of the most careless cultivator, has not 



1 en as yet explained. We can easily see, that a 

 sil, rendered porous, would more leadily and ea- 

 sy convey its moisture to the roots. It becomes 

 Ice a sponge, and is readily permeable, or rather 

 radily permits the moisture to pass between the 

 Articles. But it is not yet understood why it at- 

 facts the moisture. Perhaps, however, it may 

 le owing to its presenting a much greater surface 

 lb the moist air of the night. The fact, however, 

 Ivhich is what most concerns us, is settled. Per- 

 laps some of the experiments of our distinguished 

 jountryman, Dr Well.s, a physician of London, 

 who rendered himself distinguished by his re- 

 marks on dew, may tend to explain this fact, 

 though it is not my purpose to examine the theory. 



Every man who feels an interest in the ques- 

 tion, can satisfy himself, at once, by stirring a 

 small piece of earth in a time of severe drought, 

 and if he does not find it in the morning mora 



