10 



such a piece ? Did not the crop surprise you who have un- 

 derdraiued for grass? Two inch tile from a neighboring 

 town can now be delivered at any depot in this county at 

 twenty dollars per thousand feet. These should be laid at a 

 depth of not less than three and a half feet, with a fall of at 

 least one inch to the rod. With the low price of labor at the 

 present time, the cost is not as much as one would at first 

 suppose. 



Probably there is no better stock for the farmer in general 

 in this vicinity than milch cows. In order to maintain the 

 fertility of our soil, we should keep as many as possible, get 

 the best, and feed well. But what to do with the milk is the 

 problem. A few years ago, when there appeared to be an 

 unlimited demand, the prospect was good ; it is so now to a cer- 

 tain extent ; still many of us have been obliged the past sum- 

 mer, to sell our milk at less than the cost of production. 

 The demand for good butter is unlimited, and my own opin- 

 ion is that butter making under the Harnden system (that is, 

 setting the milk in deep cans at a low temperature), would 

 be better for many of us, than selling milk at the present 

 prices. 



Some of our farmers refuse from year to year to bring up 

 their best stock to this exhibition,- saying they have very little 

 chance with the petted animals of the few, who generally 

 take the premiums. This difficulty may be all imaginary, 

 but is there not some danger that even this old societ3^ which 

 has always so nobly excluded the race course, shall through 

 her committees refuse a premium to a colt, which Avould 

 otherwise be a valuable family or draft horse, because its 

 ancestors could not show a record of less than three minutes ? 

 The impression too seems to have gone abroad, that, under 

 the rules of this society, none but members will be allowed 

 to take premiums. This is erroneous, as the prizes are open 

 to all residents of the county, who will conform to the print- 

 ed rules and regulations. 



A great improvement has been made of late in cutting 



