136 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



that we want. I would like to know the difference, as plant 

 food, between hard-wood ashes and soft-wood ashes. 



The Chairman. The question is the feeding of stock 

 and not the value of fertilizers. 



Mr. Searle. I understand that, but I wonder how we 

 are going to feed stock, unless we can grow something to 

 feed them on. 



The Chairman. There is sufficient time before the ad- 

 journment to hear the paper on tobacco, as first proposed. 

 If you will give your attention, Mr. Smith of Sunderland, 

 one of the largest farmers in the country, and a grower of 

 tobacco, will read an essay on the cultivation of that plant. 

 It was expected that we should have a large exhibition of 

 tobacco, but we are disappointed in that regard. The reason 

 is, that the weather has been so cool and dry that it has been 

 almost impossible to take tobacco down without breaking it 

 all to pieces. 



TOBACCO AND ITS CULTURE IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER 



VALLEY. 



BY J. M. SMITH OF SUNDEELAND. 



On five previous occasions since the organization of your 

 Board have you honored our Connecticut Valley by coming 

 to it to hold your annual country meeting. 



We have listened with pleasure and profit to 3^our discus- 

 sions of almost every subject relating to our agricultural 

 industry. We have by you been instructed in the hus- 

 bandry of cattle, horses, sheep and swine. We have been 

 taught of the culture of the cereals, and of all manner of 

 fruit and root crops. You have for our enlightenment dis- 

 cussed manures, commercial fertilizers, their application and 

 value, the products of the dairy, their manufacture and 

 manner of marketing. 



We remember, too, Avith profound gratitude, how the 

 renowned Agassiz, with his remarkable simplicity of man- 

 ner, always interested himself in the apparent little things 

 of our every-day life, and how he always was ready to im- 

 part from his abundant fountain of knowledge to every per- 

 son whom he met, however humble a personage he might be. 



