Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-22
Farmers Convention.

MAINE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society met in annual session at Lew
ston, on the afternoon of 10Th inst.
Called to order by the President, Hon. Seth
Scammon of Scarboro'.
The Secretary, S. L. Boardman, being alb
sent on account of sickness, Samuel WATSON
of Ellsworth was chosen Secretary pro TEN.
The Treasurer, VIM. Z. Morris of Portland
presented his annual report, which was ac-
cepted We make the following extracts
Balance at the last settlement, 81 ,099. 60.
Sales of tickets at Portland, So, 4l5.s4. Pre-
miums awarded, So, 1880. Balance in Treas
urer's hands, S4,434.70. Gross Receipts,
S26, 553.17. Gross Expenditures, $50, 565.32
The amount of money due the Maine State
Society after division, will be S493.92.
Proceeded y the election of officers with
the following result
President Seth Scammon, Scarboro
Secretary Samuel L. Boardman, Augusta.
Treasurer: VIM. E. Morris, Portland.
Trustees Geo. w. Kicker, Portland Seth
T. Holbrook, Oxford.
The President accepted the honor of re-
election in brief and pertinent speech.
The old trustees who hold over. are Samu-
ell WATSON, Ellsworth, and Warren Percival,
Vassalboro'.
Voted, That the President, Secretary and
Secretary pro tenn, be committee to inyes
tigate the matter of amendments to the con-
stitution, and report at the adjourned meeting.
Voted, That when this meeting adjourn, it
be to meet at Augusta, in three weeks.
On motion of Mr.. Dill of Phillips, the last
resolve relating to the death of the late Sec
rotary, DIR. Holmes, was read, and it was reaf-
firmed by rising vote
On motion of Mr.. Jose of Portland vote
of thanks was extended to the late officers of
the Society, for the able and efficient manner
in which they have performed their duties.
Voted, To hold Show and Fair, if sufii-
cient inducements are offered to the Trustees
to make it advisable.
To occupy the time until adjournment, the
subject of Manures, their management and
application, was taken up for discussion.
Mr.. Williams of China, said manures should
always be housed, either in cellar or she'd
Mr. WATSON of Ellsworth, spoke of the val
ne of shoal water fish as fertilizer and food
We are finding in those. fish magazine of
wealth, bothras a fertilizer and as food for an
imals. Has been experimenting for two years
in feeding it to his stock. Has found that as
food for. sheep it is worth pound for pound
as much as corn. 1t will increase the clip of
wool one pound per head. The refuse of the
porgy and herring is very valuable as food
for cattle, sheep and fowl. Those who have
used the chum dislike the odor, but now it
is entirely inodorous. Gives two quarts a day
for twelve sheep, and they eat it with great
avidity. No salt is used in its preparation.
Mr.. Goodale-Fish food furnishes animals
heterogeneous food in a highly concentrated
form, and is of great value to feed in connec-
ton with fodder and poor hay. Maine has a
vast amount of marine manures-rockweed,
muscle bed, fish, &c. Rockwell in its green
state is almost equal, chemically, to fresh cat
tie droppings, There is now in operation a
new mandatory at Boothbay for preparing
rockweed, barrelling it, and putting it in the
market as fertilizer. These heterogeneous
materials are of great value in composts. We
heave large amount of fish chum made on
our coast, and large proportion is carried
out of the State. In its preparation much OF
its valuable properties are lost, owing to
ignorance or earelessness in its preparation.
1t needs to be dried thoroughly and immedi-
ately upon being taken from the press 1t is
not suitable as food for mich cows as its odor
will affect the milk. 1t is great assistance
towards forming bone and muscle. Some
times farmer can get his manure the cheap
est by buying it in the form of food and
passing it through the animal organisms.
Mr. Oaks Howard of Winthrop, made some