The Portland daily press., 1872-01-27
~ Reported for the Press.l
The Annual Session Of the Board Of Agri-
culture and Farmers Convention at
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

| 't~ WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Board met at 2 P. NJ, the President IN the
chair, who introduced, with few remarks
John Stetson Gould of Hudson, N. Y, who
gave lecture upon
MANAGEMENT OF MEADOWS AND PASTURES. -
Mr.. Gould stated the value of the grass crops
| in the United States annually to be $500, 900,
600. A neighbor of his produces three tons of
hay per acre. Kings county, N. Y, produces
the most hay of any in the State, one hundred
and eighty tons to the hundred acres. Onon-
dauga county, the garden of the State, produ-
ces but one hundred and twelve tons to the
one hundred acres George Geddes, who re-
sides in his vicinity produces two and half
tons per acre. Grasses vary much in their nu-
tritive value, component parts, and amount of
forage produced. Some grasses are muscle pro-
ducers; some fat formers, and some bone feed
ers. Every variety of grass was intended by
the Creator to be adapted to some useful and
benefcent purpose. M
Many sections are producing grasses not adap-
ted to them, and would, if needed with proper
varieties, produce largely when compared with
the present. For every locality and grade of
soil, some variety is eminently adapted. Rec
ommends observations regarding the natural
products that grow with the greatest luxuri-
ance, and report to some respectable journal:
then we shall have reliable data from which
to work. We should adopt Botanical names
as local names often lead to mistakes. Mead
ows, he defined to be any land where grass is
mown. On square yard of wet meadow were
found thirty plants of different varieties four
Of which, only, were useful ones. On square
yard of dry meadow or field, were found thir-
ty-eight varieties, eight useful and thirty use
less. On square yard of moist meadow were
found twenty-five varieties of plants, eight of
which, only, were useful, the other seventeen
being useless Irrigated meadows gave 400
per cent; more produce of grass than thin up
Land soils. Poor clays gave fifty per cent. rich
loans, one hundred and fifty per cent; irriga-
ted meadows, or fields, gave four hundred per
cent.
strong, deep, calcarerous soil resting upon
clay subsoll Is the best grass land. Sow
great variety OF seeds; prepare the soils as well
as possible and manure as highly as practicable.
Plants do not tolerate near neighbors of their
own species. Our soils are not covered with
grass plants thiekly enough. Man absolutely
requires mixed diet. 1t is just the same with
50 arranged as to come into bloom the proper
time for cutting, successfully. Varieties that
do not bloom at the same time should not be
sown together. fF7 sEJfE
Mr.: Poor of Andover, inquired what process
we should take in view Of the present situa-
ton. ,fft E+L
Mr. Gould replied the treatment lust recon-
mended was the best he knew. He recon-
mended setting apart just square rod in
plot and trying different fertilizers, carefully
noting effects and weighing produce, leaving
one plot without dressing as standard.
EVENING SESSION. 80
Warren Colburn of Kennebec, read an essay
upon "Grass-lands and Culture
ID. II. Thing of Mt Vernon, read an essay
entitled sStek-to-it-ive-ness,' sharp, peril
popt hot %bo
he thinks Maine equal, all things considered,
to any section of the country and counsels
sticking by the old parental State.
GH ffa THURSDAY.
The topic of the disposal of the State appro-
priation, devoted last year to the encourage
ment of wheat growing and Farmers clubs
The discussion was participated in by Sec
rotary Goodale, Colburn of Kennebec, Wal
ker of Sagadahoc, Howes of Knox, Adams of
Franklin, Doe of York, S. L. Boardman, and
Others 1t was finally disposed of in the same
manner as last year, viz: half to Farmers
clubs and half to general farm improvement.
L. ). Gold opened discussion on the topic of
Production of Milk"
Warren Percival of Maine State Society
spoke OF the breeds in Maine and the adoption
OF breeds to ends desired
John >. Gould of New York spoke at length
upon dairying, and the production of milk.
T. 5. Gold said Jersey milk was not richer |
than the Ayrshire, but its color gave it better |
repute.
AFTERNOON.
Board met at 2 o'clock. Seth Seaman of
Cumberland delivered a lecture on EARN la
bor" He believed in it. Regarded it honor
ible and as deserving of better pay. Agricul-
,ural labor fosters every other industry.
L. L. Lucas of Somerset, read an essay upon
he Common errors in rearing and feeding
arm stock"
The discussion that followed was participated
n by H. Thayer of South Paris, Mr.. Lawrence
i Bncksport, Mr. Gould of New York, and
Mr.. Thing of Mt. Vernon.
EVENING SESSION.
Hon. Warren Percival of the Maine State
society read an essay upon "Our Influence
well prepared paper
j. s. Gould of New York then delivered
ecture upon Farming interests"