Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-02-07
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
AUGUSTA. Jan 18th. 1868
SPEED TBEPLow.

miitee on Rulc. and Orders made repmt.
which. after being discussed at length by
Messrs. Carpenter. Moor, WATSON and
Prince, was recommitted with instructions.
MIR. Chamberlain. from the Maine State
Society, presented the following topic for
discussion Has any considerable change
taken place in our climate in the last City
years ; and If so 20 what cause or cause. is
it TO be attributed? what are the evidences?
Mr.. Putnam Of Aroostook said that m
Aroos'ook when he moved there some thirty
years since, no one could rai.e corn; now
good crops are raised; did not have A.
much depth of snow or rain rs formerly I;
believed the causes to be Gearing up of the
land.
Mr.. Holmes OF Oxford believed the sea.
son to be shorter than formerly and colder
Mr.---oi Pcnobscot thought the cause
70 there being 90 much water in the streams.
was owing to evaporation.
The Board went into nm informal session
and Mr.. Dunning. member OF the House CT
Representatives, being called upon. remark.
ed that be thought that we did not have as
much rain or snow rs formerly, and believed
that our seasons were warmer than thirty
years since. AT that time corn was a very
uncertain crop. now WAS the most certain
crop raised.
Mr.. Moore o. the executive council being
called upon remarked that the seasons we've
longer than formerly. and cited the Dead
River settlement. They could raise no corn
thirty years since, and grain crops were
often "a, Off by frost, at the present time
corn is a ve,y certain crop He had not
noticed any difference in The fsl OF rain.
but thought the amount OF snow wa, less
than formerly
Mr.. Wasson of Hancock remarked that
on the seaboard where be resided be though
the seasons were colder than formerly
Apples trees were now standing OF the frs,
planting that were from Is 10 - inch IN
diameter. now 1t was almost impossible TO
RAISE apple tree; i Was now almost i'm
possible to raise corn. formerly it was a
very sure crop.
A gentleman of Washington Co. cited
several streams in which there was not as
much water as formerly and believed IL wa,
caused BY evaporation rather than having
less rain than formerly Mr. Chamberlain
Of Piscaiaquis raid that in Pisca,aquis in
1916 they planted potatoes on the 10th and
l7th OF June with great coat and miitens on
aud had TO lahor hard TO keep from suffer.
ing from cold, and potatoes left on the
ground over night frozr; believed the sea.
sons were warmer than formerly.
Mr.. Carpenter, OF Kcnnebec. presented
an Essay upon Mixed Hnsbandry and "a
yoring the same.
The afternoon session was dcv ted to .,
much oil the Governors message as relate
TO the culture OF wbrat.
Mr. Wassop OF Hancock spoke In favo,
OF 9 more general culture of wheat, and b.
lieved it could be raised very successful,
and made remunerative crop; he said also
the crop in Maine was nearly up 10 an ay.
erage Of the crop IN the wheat growing
states. while in Aroostook the crop compar
ed lavorably with the best wheat GROWN,
states.
Mr.. Dixie of Sagadaboc did not ,hiul
wheat growing to be good policy for tn
farmers OF Maine. His experience wa
that it would be more profitable to rails,
other crops and exchange for wheat TIL.
soil was tenacious clay, and wet
MIR. Putnam of Aroostook. believed il I,
be one Of the most remuberative crops. On,
OF bis neighbors. by blowing a stiff els,
soil with two piows. one following in Ii,
inrro~ OF the other. blowing the grouns
some Is inches deep. raised crop of5C
bushels 30 an acre. Many sowed about ter
bushels Of ashes 10 The crn to prevent ID,
wheat from lodging
MIR. Carpenter Of Kennebec. believe,
that il the time spent in Transporting on
heavy crops to exchange for flour wa. .pen
in raising wheat, We should be better OF
than at present.
Mr.. WATSON said that II We sold all IN
hay. corn, potatoes and grain nov raise,
in Maine, It would not pay for the Hou
nov consumed in The State. and that th
figures would show il 10 be so. (Man,
members shook their beads as II doubtin,
the truth OF the statement
Mr. Chamberlain OF Pi.cataqnis. said ,ha
maoy persons ia bis vicinity broke up Of,
grass ground and spread on abou, 10 cord
OF manure to an acre aud harrowcd il in
and raised 80 bushels TO an acre.
The discussion vas carried on BY Mcssr.
Brown. Prince. Moore. Norton. and other,
On Monday. he report on the appIica
ton Of manures was taken % aud discussed
N. WILL r