The Portland daily press., 1875-02-18
[From our Special Correspondent
State Board of Agriculture.

WATERvILLE, Feb. 16, 1875.
In spite of the keen, cutting air from the
North, almost dividing the soul from the body
by its unexampled severity, quorum of this
body was in attendance at its first session this
morning at the Town Hall. The organization
was completed by the choice of q. A. Gilbert,
PRESIDENT j. E. Shaw, Vice President; S.
L. Boardman, Secretary. Messrs. Hersey Of
Washington, Aver of Waldo, Getchell of Ken
nebec and Hight of the state society were the
new members present.
A paper from Mr.. Lee of Foxcroft, based up
on the inquiry "Are we raising too many hor-
ses in Maine?' answering it in the affirmative,
while draft horses were neglected, was fol-
and condemning excessive regard for speed,
lowed by considerable discussion. Mr.. Bur-
leigh asserted that the raising of fast horses
did not pay farmers; too many of them owned
more than they were able to dispose OF, or
could take care of; he knew one man who had
seventeen and yet could not pay his debts
He preferred those of medium size, suitable
for family use. The West with its abundant
facilities, could surpass US in raising heavy ami
mails. We want pure blood and serviceable
rather than fast or snowy horses.
Mr.. Pearson thought the Gen. KNOX breed
answered the general demand; If not fast.
they were good for other purposes, frequently
coming up to the weigh. of twelve or fourteen
hundred pounds. He believed that Mr.. Lang,
by the introduction of the stock, had added
million of dollars to the wealth of the state.
He said fast horses made fast men, and were
especially damaging to young men; he also
condemned exhibitions of speed at fairs.
Neither give up the breeding of horses, nor
kgive it too much prominence. Mr.. Burleigh
differed from the foregoing estimate, stating it
contrariwise thus: that before we are done
with the Knox blood it will damage us mill
ion of dollars, as so many worthless ones of the
race are used to perpetuate their species.
DR.. Allen of the State College, rejoined,
after the remark of member that everybody,
even a minister's wife, liked to see horse
trot, and that it was impossible to get the
horse out of people-that he thought that in
the interests of morality, every one should OPP
pose fast trotting at fairs.
Dr. j. w. North of Jefferson read an inter-
esting paper in the afternoon, on Creameres-
descriptive, and on the whole recomendatory
of the manufacture of butter and cheese in the
same factory, at the same or different times.
Convincing statistics from New York and YER
mont were given. From $500 to $500 addition
al expenditure on the cheese factories will be
required. The next step taken by our dairy
men will be in this direction.
A paper from Mr.. Kent of Bucksport fol-
lowed, on ''What Know of Dairy Farming
full of the results of actual experience. The
rambling discussion which succeeded these pa
pers, was largely upon the merits of Jersey
COWS for cheese factories, with the weight OF ev-
idence in their favor.
MI Burleigh of Fairfield commenced the ex-
e1cises of the evening with paper without a
title eulogistic of the vocation and prospects of
the farmer, and concluding with poetcal trib-
ute to "Grass as King"
Rev. Dr. Allen then read an address on Ag-
ricultural Education, scholarly, sound and sug-
gestive, demonstrating that there must be an
intermediate class of educated men between.
scientists AMI the masses of farmers, and that
by this arrangement, agriculture in all its pro-
cesses and operations would be improved and
refined and therefore elevated.
Your correspondent was surprised to learn
that this finished production, supposed to have
been the work of weeks, was written in two or
three days preceding this meeting. The cIt-
zens of Watervie will probably never know
how much they lost this evening, unless the
score or two present take the trouble to inform
than