Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-11-05
agricultural.
lCONTINUKD.l
Maine Board Of agriculture.
Farmers Convention a, sAowhegan.
report ON the National Agricultural
Convention.


Tbs first paper OF the morning session
OF the convention, was a report by Prof
NJ. {. Fernsld. Delegate from the Board
10 the National Agricultural Convention
at Washington. concerning the objects
and work of that convention. This re-
port occupied about half an hour, and
was devoted TO n review OF each of the
subjects dsliSeratsd upon by The conven.
lion. As the results of that convention
have been already extensively published,
and Is the interesting report OF Prot.
Fernald embraced no new ideas or Sug-
gestions. We DO not deem il necessary TO
give an abstract OF the same.
mr. Gilbert ON "a New, Departure"
Mr. L. A. Gilbert. President. OF the
board, next read an able aud carefully
prepared paper having reference to the
general topic decided upon, tor ealet
theme for consideration. We present a
briel abstract
Ii is claimed that agriculture in our
State is in decline, thai larms are being
abandoned, the rural population gradu-
ally decreasing-and it must be admitted
that some OF these claims are grounded
on facts. Average farming Ia the older
sections OF the State is not being re-
w.rled with SO bOuntiiul returns IS
formally By the same efforts, bat these
efforts OF the average farmer are not we'll
put forth. ! comparison OF the statistics
81 production in Maine ioy The last trrec
decades will show that horses have con-
siderably increased aud hogs decreased,
while other kinds OF stock have remain
eel about the same. OF crops, corn has
fallen of 10000 bushels. wheat and
oats slightly; rye twO-thirds; potsioes
doubled. barley largely increased; or
chard products more than doubled. We
produce nearly 100000 more tons Of hay,
but keep no more stock. The increased
value OF orchard products Is due 10 bet
ter transportation, which enables the
producer TO realize more money from the
product, than from any increase in the
number of bushels raised. These figures
show that the premises assured IN rela-
liOn 10 the decline OF agriculture are cor
reet-for while we barely hold ouI own,
and hardly that in stOcS. aud arc falling
OF in corn and grain, We have At the
ssme time, enlarged the number % acres
Of improved land by bringing under cui-
tivatiOn many acres OF newly cleared
lAnds--and that the agriculture oi to-day
in our State. does not essentially differ
from the agriculture OF thirty yeals ago,
in kind We keep no more stock, no
less: We cultivate the same scres, grow
tho same kinds Of products and raise
less every year A new departure from
this course is demanded; and Yet farmers
should not change their productions and
stock with every slight turn in The tide
OF events. IL does not folio" that be-
cause some sections OF our country can
produce certain articles Oi consumption,
at much cheaper Sats than We can,
that il is the best policy for Us 10 90
there and pu,cha.e them. The speaker
here alluded Al length to the large sums
wrenched from Oug farmers by shsTpeIS
OF various kinds. concluding by endors-
ing the remark that our farmers are The
most guliible people IN the country
One great trouble with Us II Ne have
used the mind in searching tor chance
TO play the winning card in some enter
prise outside the iarm.-while our hands
have bsen lell to do The farming alone.
il has been required OF the hands 10 earn
the living by working the soil while the
mind was engaged Ia o;her enterprises.
This must be stopped and ne must make
our farming business. and learn that
the farm is the best savings bauk. There
is two much aimless farming la the world
we must have clear idea OF what We
would aim 10 do. and definite plan OF
operations by which 10 Secure il. When
We have decided Mai course 20 follow.
and have al object in mind, All our cusr-
gies in that direction mGst 10 pat forth
To make the plan successful. And such
farming 'ciIl &c successful. Our farming
mus, De essentially modified or The farm
ers cannot prosper We must, to large
extent, turn our attention 10 supplying
our own wants. in addition 20 lae great
staples grown to 80 sold out ol The State;
and to the extent OF the demand our at
tention should Dc directed To those pro
ductions which come least into cOmpsti-
ton with other more favored locations
As the business OF raising and selling
beef has been managed by most OF our
farmers, it has been ruiuous- because we
have sent halt grown bons and muscle,
and hide 10 market without any tat TO -
with it. We San make IL pay to grow
fat oxen and choice steers Ia dairy pro.
duets Ne shall be perfectly safe IT, III
stssd of barely holding our own ia the
number OF COWS kept. We largely In
crease them til At least the home trade
is supplied with butter and cheese made
in our own State. In vegetables wo
buy onions. pickles, aud even cabJaSss
from other States. We can grow onins
and pickles as well as Massachusetts,.
All that is necessary is to change rough
nolnin cnltnrn In the smallsr Limits. nicer