Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-03-31
agricultural.
From the Maine Farmer.
Maine Board Of agriculture and
Farmers Convention.
rCOSuNUEDl
EVENING.

teoSuNUSD,I
EVENING.
In the evening, Hon. Charles L. Flint
of Massachusetts, delivered lecture on
a. Hundred Years Progress Of AmeTi-
can Agriculture"-,he Court House being
deRssly filed large portion ofths audi.
snce being composed of ladies.
Progress OF American AsrIsnltarS.
In opening the speaker alluded to the
coming Centennial Exhibition Of Amen.
san Independence. 10 be held at Phila.
lelphis, in 1876, and referred to lhs
great Advancement MAIDS in every de.
paTtment oil industrial progress in our
sountry during the past century, svi.
deuee OF which would thsrs be presented.
lie then took up tue history Of our sgri-
culture. speaking frst OF the importation
OF saltle, remarking there was little need
to look beyond the period OF the Revolu'
iiOn in search OF the first steps az any
real material progress in the sgri-
culture ol this country. The first ami.
mails imported into Ika colonies were
landed az James River, some time IL 1902.
O.her impCita,ious followed in lslO aud
1911. The iucTsase had been such that
ia 1920 there were about five hundred
head in The Virginia Colony, and in 1859
as many IS twenty thousand. The first
cattle brought 10 New England arrived
ST Plymouth, in The ship Charity in 1924.
In 1850 = hundred were imported for tie
company OF IhS Massachusetts, Bay In
New England" and in l6SI.SS Capt
John Mason brought cattle from Den.
marx into what is now New Hampshire;
and /, is an interesting fac, that no great
improvement in feeding began until u
systematic calture OF the higher qualities
OF the na,Wa, grasses Was adopted. In
1857 there were but dirty seven plows
in the colony OF Massachusetts. and il
was not till 1915. that = plow small
enough 10 90 between rows OF corn was
made. In regard TO the growing Of corn
and the cereals, The lecturer said. corr
was raised or James River, by the Eag
lsh. under the tuition OF the Indians in
zoos, and in 1921. The pilgrims at Ply
mouth. manfred ;h.ir corn 10y putting an
alewite OF shad in each bal. Wheat was
first sovu on one OF the Islands in BUz-
yards Bay IS early Ss 1902; ryc and
bailey were both grown a. itiN, and oats
introduced about The same time. The
FIST applcs were raised upon Governors
Island, Boston llsvboy In 1899, and the
famous GOV. Enjicot. pear Tee was
planted in lGlo. Such being The coudi
ton Of The agriculture al outbreak OF tie
Revolution, the speaker next spoke O!
depression which the war Of Indcpcnd
ance caused in our agriculture. and OF
attempt 10 revive it s0er the treaty Of
peace. This attempt was mainly the
result Of associated Effort on the part OF
gentlemen Interested in agriculture, who
formed themselves as early rs 1854 aud
fIom that 20 I1g2 into agricultural socie.
ties. The fret agricultural exhibition,
probably WAS held 10 the District Of
Columbia in 1910. Referring next 81
much length to the history OF the intro
iucliOR Of implements and machines. the
speaker gave an Interesting account o.
the invention aud iau reduction Of ali the
great labor saving implements and the
shauge they have wrought in our firm.
ing. The hr.i iron pow was made 10y
Chas. New toli Of New Jersey in 1877,
and IN lSJ6 in the State Of Massachusetts
alone there were l52,Gs pl0vs manu-
featured OF total value OF s1Q1,l55
The Mccormick Reaper was invented IN
1884 and The Wood mower in 1872. The
invention Of the horse rake. tsdder ard
al the farm implements were detailed,
and the lecturer neXs spoke Of the
results Of The use Of these improved
machines and implements, in the greater
increase and larger value OF the crops
raised. In considering this portion OF
his subject lie gave minute statistics 20
show The amount OF wheat, corn. tobaC.
CO, cotton aud hay produced annually al
The close OF Tie Revolution. and the
amount and value OF each grown auuu-
ally at plessnt-lhe comparison being
very interesting and startling. While
our farm crops and farm stock have rapid
~ increased. the Intelligence and skill Of
our Farmers has also kept pace with these
Improvements; the agricultural li,era
ture OF our country has eIsrted a mos,
beneficial influence; the contributions Of
science 10 the progress OF practical agyi
culture have been in large measure and
Of great Importance; and the establish
nent Of agricultural colleges has demon
strated the wisdom OF the General Gov
eminent in fostering this great industry.
These show that greater application OF
mind 10 the labors Of the hand is 10 dis
tinguish the future over all past genera
tions, for lie large numbers OF young
men who will 60 forth every year from
these Institutions, many OF them thorough
~ instructed in chemistry and kindred
sciences, will give Us; at least, the con
ditiOns for new discoveries which viii
open the way to higher triumphs, and so