The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-07
LOUIS 0. COWAN, Editor and Proprietor.

to returns, were 2.l3l,45i pounds. Seven
States also take the lead Of us in the amount
Of cheese yielded per COW. Dr. Holmes says
VIC ought to make more than enough butter
to supply our population, and instead of
sixty-nine pounds per COW, theayengc ought
20 be an hundred.
In regard to the article Of wool We raised
/ ,3G4,O pounds. This gives a fraction
over two pounds to every individual in the
State. II has been estimated, 10y those who
have had experience in clothing people, that
every individual requires, on the average,
seven pounds per annum to make him COM
Portable. We have according to this, de-
fciency Of 3,S35,96G pounds, which must
b, obtained from other sources.
In order to supply the deficiency we need
to keep clj,322 more sheep than wonow do.
10 winter these sheep would roquiro ILL.,
OOO tons of hay, and allowing ~ 900 farm
crs in Maine, each farmer to bring thisabout
would have to raise fraction over two tons
more hay than is now produced. Many
States are ahead OF US in wool missing
Vermont, with 2Gs, 900 loss people than we
have. or with only 1872 farmers, has a
half million more acres Of land under i'm
proyement than we have; keeps over half
million more sheep than we do; clips Ov-
cr two millions Of pounds Of wool than we
do.
In the number OF working oxen we lead
each Of the other New England States, and
only four States'in the Union 90 beyond US
in this respect. These are the largo States
Of New York, Virginia, Tcnnassee and Miss
oari bat in the size, symmetry, strength
and docility OF our oxen, we may safely
challenge the whole Union
To put Maine in the rank she shouldhold
agricultuully, reqirOs the fostering care of
the State and the patient labor and research
Of individuals by establishing institutions
where the seiencc Of farming may he taught,
otherwise, it is to be learcd we shall 90 hack
ward.
by inspection of the tables Of the census
it will also appear that the ratio Of the in
crease Of our population is decreasing. The
Secretary says:
How happens this? =? 1t is not because
the natural laws Of increase are checked
among us, but bccaus, Of emigration of our
young men. They cmigrate not for the
want Of room, bat because that room is not
pleasant to them-becauso they conceive
there are greater advantages to he enjoyed
in other States. This rcstlcssncss. this
state of mind, can he obyiatcd
in no other way than by establishing and
to them that there arg now
equal or better advantages at home
ihis brings US again to the point from
which we started, viz that the mind must
receive higher instruction, and that the
physical and property condition win rise in
proportion and ournumbers increase accord
ingIy.
Docs it need any argument to prove this ?
LIT Us turn our eyes to any part Of the
world and sco for ourselves whether it is
oxubcnncc Of soil, or mildncss and sweet
ness OF climate, that exhibits the most
lourishing and most profitable instances of
agriculture; or whether it is not where
these natural Advantages arcscarccly found,
hut where the mind of the operators is high
" instructed, and happily, honorably and
industriously employed" IL is "whorc
the great purpos,s of heaven are fully car
riod out--the great duty of man thorough
iy pcrformed-the laws Of our nature
obgycd-;hc earth welcomes most cordially
mans effort, and pays most bountcously his
TOLL
The report closes with some further OBJ
s,rvations on the Importance Of encoung-
ing the various agricultural societies now in
opantion, and OF looking to substance nth-
yr than show in exhibitions, which are mere
ty cSponenb and not the ends of agricultu-
raj pursuits.
This report is but preliminary to another
which will follow when the necessary in
formation and returns are made from the
various agricultural societies.