1857. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



137 



These instances are hit upon at a hasty glance at 

 the Tolume. Without doubt, other inequalities 

 could readily be found. I name them, not for the 

 purpose of finding fault, but to show, the absolute 

 necessity of careful revision, to make such publica- 

 tions of any value. This is my amusement in one 

 of the coldest days I have ever known — the mer- 

 cury having been this morning 22 deg. below zero, 

 and being now at nearly 18 below. 



Jan. 23, 1857. South Danveks. 



LEGISLATIVE AGRICULTUEAL MEET- 

 ING. 



[Reported fob the Farmer by H. E. Rockwell.] 



The Third of the series of Legislative Agricultu- 

 ral meetings was held on Tuesday evening, as usu- 

 al, in the Hall of the House of Representatives. 

 A very respectable number of gentlemen were 

 present, though fewer than it is desirable to see at 

 these important meetings. The subject for consid- 

 eration was, "Neat Stock, and the adaptation of 

 the different breeds to the Soil and Climate of this 

 Commonwealth." 



The meeting was opened promptly at 7 o^clock, at 

 ■which time His Honor Lieut. Governor Benchley 

 was. introduced as the Chairman, by Hon. John 

 Brooks, of Princeton. He proceeded at once to 

 address the meeting as follows : 



Mr. President, and Gentlemen: — In accepting 

 the invitation to preside over the deliberation of 

 this body, on this occasion, it is due to those pres- 

 ent, and myself, to say, that it was not on account 

 of any information that I might be able to impart, 

 or expeiience that I have had in agricultural mat- 

 ters ; but official position merely, I presume, was 

 the cause of selection. 



Gov. Benchlet then spoke in general terms, of 

 farming as an occupation, and of his appreciation 

 of those engaged in it, wishing that he were one of 

 the favored number. He spoke in terms of com- 

 mendation of the Slate Board of ^Agriculture, and 

 of their gratuitous efforts, and said that "if they 

 were to ask an appropriation of the Legislature, 

 withholding would not enrich the State and giving 

 will not impoverish it." There is one other topic 

 to which I wish to allude, for it may become a topic 

 for consideration before this Society before long. 

 It is, as to the propriety and feasibility of organiz- 

 ing a State Agricultural Society. If I understand 

 it aright, the proposition is, to hold Fairs annually ; 

 if so, in the absence of any argument as yet ad- 

 vanced, I am compelled to believe that the propo- 

 sition is an unfavorable one. It is understood that 

 the State Annual Fair is to do away with the Coun- 

 ty Fairs. I certainly believe that it would be a 

 decided disadvantage to the agricultural interest 

 of the State. There are hundreds who attend the 

 County Fairs, who would not be able to go to a 

 distant part of the State every year — farmers of 

 small means, just the very class who shojild re- 



ceive the information and encouragement which is 

 derived through Agricultural Fairs and Addresses. 

 If there should be but one Annual Fair, there would 

 be one address, consequently less information 

 would be diffused. Whereas, there are several de- 

 livered annually at the various County Fairs, under 

 the present arrangement. 



Perhaps it would be well to organize a State So- 

 ciety, and hold State Fairs once in five years. 

 Such an arrangement, I can conceive, would be an 

 advantage to the farmers of the State ; but I do 

 not believe it would be good policy to discontinue 

 the annual county fairs. 



Mr. Asa G. Sheldon, of Wilmington, enumer- 

 ated the great and numerous advantages to be de- 

 rived from milk cows. A small family, with real 

 economy, can live on half the expense, with a good 

 milk cow, that they can without one. As an inci- 

 dent to show the value of milk, he stated that sixty- 

 two years ago, two brothers went from North Read- 

 ing up into Wilmington and agreed to take an 

 island of Col. Langdon and plant it "to the halves." 

 They had four small oxen — there were no large 

 ones in those days — and a farrow cow, with a bushel 

 of Indian meal. On that meal and the milk of 

 that cow, they lived till they had plowed and plant- 

 ed ten acres of corn. 



As to the breeds of cattle he would not say 

 much ; but he disputed the idea which some have, 

 that we have no native breed. We certainly have 

 those that may as properly be called native cattle, 

 as any men here may be called native men. And 

 as to the profit from the different breeds, he would 

 be glad to see any imported cow that has done as 

 well as a native cow has, as a milker. 



Simon Brown, of Concord, said all kinds of 

 cattle maybe adapted to our soil and climate, but 

 some much more easily than others. We have a 

 class of cattle, called by some native, and by some, 

 common cattle ; and if there were any difference 

 in the character of the cattle to which these term.s 

 apply, he did not understand what it was. All these 

 are acclimated, and will do well if well fed and 

 housed, in any portion of New England. The 

 Durham cattle, as a distinct breed, were first spoken 

 of; and these, it was said, were of two kinds, the 

 short-homed and long-horned. By some they are 

 much esteemed, who say they are adapted to our 

 soil and climate. Where there is rank grass for 

 feed they are found to be very profitable for beef. 

 This is particularly true in some of the southern, 

 western and middle States. But transfer them to 

 New England, where the feed is often short, and 

 they would not do as well. Under favorable cir- 

 cumstances, they are fine cattle for beef. Mr. 

 Brown said that a few years since he had an op- 

 portunify to examine the stock of Col. Capron, of 

 Md., who had reclaimed a farm between Baltimore 

 and Washington, making the old worn-out tobacco 



