74 GRAIN. • 



« 



It is the opinion of at least a portion of your Committee, that the 

 Society should discontinue the offer of premiums for grain, for the 

 reasons : 



First, that it is not profitable as compared with other branches of 

 farming, as dairying, stock-raising, and market-gardening. The de- 

 mand for dairy products increases faster than the production, and will 

 continue to do so as long as our population increases. On looking at 

 statistics for 1867, we find that American dairying represented a cap- 

 ital of $700,000,000 ; that the cheese product sold for $25,000,000; 

 butter $100,000,000. It is estimated that the English consumption 

 of cheese is 310,000,000 lbs. per year, while they produce only 179,- 

 000,000 lbs., and that the demand in Great Britain for our surplus 

 largely exceeds the supply. 



Another reason is, we can not compete with the West. On account 

 of the rocky and hilly nature of our country, we can not employ ma- 

 chinery in the preparation and cultivation to as good advantage ; our 

 soil is against us; it is old, and does not contain as much phosphate, 

 and those who have had experience with the phosphates now manufac- 

 tured, generally, do not have much faith in them ; and we can not re- 

 store our soils with stable manure, if we raise grain, as it does not fur- 

 nish the material like grass. 



Another reason, grain crops are so liable to failure. Of the four 

 corn crops entered, two were withdrawn on account of failure to come 

 up to the required standard. Of five fields of wheat, two were with- 

 drawn for the same cause. Of two fields of oats, one was withdrawn; 

 reason, failure. One practical farmer says h« has raised one hundred 

 bushels of corn to the acre, and that it did not pay him as compared 

 with grass. Stable manure applied to corn increases the amount of 

 weeds, and consequently increases the expense of cultivation ; but ap- 

 plied to grass, not only increases the quantity, but improves the qual- 

 ity. The more manure, the more hay; and the more hay, the more 

 manure. The awards of premiums were all, with one exception, recom- 

 mended to competitors residing in the town of Lunenburg, and it is 

 surprising to the writer of this report, when he considers the adapta- 

 tion of the soil of that town to the raising of grass, dairying, and veg- 

 etables, Avith what tenacity they cling to the raising of grain. 



J. P. REED, for the Committee. 



