Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-11-23
agricultural.
From the Lewiston Joursli
State Board of agriculture.


The State Board Of Agriculture held
their semi-annual meeting at Calais, Nov,
Sd, 4ih and 9th. y larger number than
usual were present. Reports Of crops
given, showed the hay crop to be large
ono and fall feed better than usual
Wheat Is less than last year. Barley and
ryc are light. bu, are not extensively
raised. Corn has given fair yield
Potatoes give about two.thirds to three.
fourths Of crop. Apples arc generally
failure. One orchard was reported a'
producing five hundred bushels of Bald.
wins. Mr.. Flight Of Skowhegan read a
paper on Success IN Farming" critics
ing some Of the prevailing errors Of farm.
ers. lie advocated the adoption of regu.
lar hours Of work for farmers very
sensible idea. Many farmers by working
early and late wear themselves out before
they reach the age which should be their
prime in life.
Mr.. Durham Of Bangor, read 4 very
instructive paper upon Sheep Husbandry
presenting facts well worthy the cOnsid.
Grafton OF our farmers. We heartily en-
dUrSc the following statement of his -
There mas been no time'for the last %
years but a well selected flock Of mutton
sheep would pay more clean money in
proportion to the feed and time in taking
care Of them, than any other domestic
animal. There is no animal in which
there Is 50 little waste OF 50 little loss
With a well selected flock the increase
will pay for keeping, leaving their fleece
for net income. and at the lowest price for
wool 1t will make handsome dividend.
OF coure it viii not DO this if the flock is
bought with with no other consideration
than because it Is cheap, and the butchers
allowed to yearly select the best lambs
making the farmer believe thst /: Is more
profitable to keep the poor ones and I'M
prove upon them, than to keep those al
ready fitted for the market"
Then followed 4 discussion not confined
to either Of the papers read, but speakers
referred to the important points Of each.
Mr.. WATSON said farmers have thought
that the profits ofbusiness men are greater
than theirs. This he considered a mis-
take, and estimated the profits Of various
branches Of business at 81 per cent, and
that Of successful farming at not less than
. per cent Did he mean that farming
generally pays fer the labor expended,
taxes, repairs, etc, etc, and returns ) per
cent. profit on the amount invested?
Il the profits arc really as large as that
they are greater than we had supposed,
unless Mr.. WATSON restricts his term Of
successful farming" TO exceptional cases.
Undoubtedly farming can and ought to
be made to pay that rate of profit, but
does 1t do it now, Is the question? Messrs
Payson, Getehell, Aver and Rev. DR..
Allen took part in the discussion.
In the evening. Hon. Edward Payson
lead a paper entitled "a plea for the
human body or something about food" in
which he remarked that If little OF the
attention. which has been given to the soul
had been bestowed upon the body we
should see better results than we do now.
The soul, said Mr.. PaysOn. has received
none too much attention, but rather too
little in the past, and their would be very
little sense in diminishing that little when
there Is no occasion for it.
There IS ample time and opportunity
for every one to bestow ten times more
care upon the welfare of their soul, and
at the same time have ample opportunity
TO care for the body as it deserves and
ought to be cared for.
President Allen occupied the remainder
OF the evening in brief lecture on the
Agricultural College, in which he said =
The design Of the college at Orono is to
lay the broad, deep foundations of 1 liber-
al education which is best adapted to In
dustrial pursuits, so that in whatever de.
Partmcnt of industry its graduates nav
enter they will be successful business men
farmers and mechanics and also intell.
gent. educated men, prepared to guide the
thought and intelligence Of the whole
community where they dwell"
The forenoon and the evening of the |
last day Of the session were occupied with |
a consideration Of interests pertaining to
in which not much that was
new seemed to be developed. \ paper
entitled what Next ?' was read by read |
Mr.. Bracket Of Belfast. \ paper on
Raising Steers" by Mr. Aver Of Free
dom, and on one Mutton Raising" by |
Mr.. Warren of Surry, were read, in !
which were facts of interest. Messrs.
Barrows, IIeryey, Hayden, Bearce, Todd,
Hill and others made remarks and the
session closed.