the work of the Board and of the encouraging features in the agriculture of the State. The interest manifested in dairying was referred to, and the establishment of creameries in the State was regarded with favor. All great results are accomplished by organization and co-operation, and the farmers of the State should organize and co-operate in various ways for the advancement of the various farming interests.

J. L. Gerrish, of Webster, then discussed the subject of fruit raising. He regarded fruit raising as one of the most profitable enterprises of the farm, and Central and Southern New Hampshire one of the best localities for the business. Mr. Gerrish advocated raising trees and grafting them with those varieties best adapted to the soil. The Greening is preferable for a gravelly soil, while the Baldwin will thrive better on heavier land. Would have but few varieties. He illustrated with specimens the various methods of grafting.

Albert DeMeritte, of Durham, a former member of the Board of Agriculture, asked the speaker numerous questions which brought out various interesting points. Mr. DeMeritte said he regarded the production of the Baldwin apple profitable. Had trees set but ten years that had produced three barrels of apples each in a year.

Chairman Thompson, in answer to a question, said the canker worm could be kept off by the use of Paris green. Had been over an orchard of three hundred trees in a day with aid of a man and team. The Paris green was mixed with water and sprayed over the trees with a force pump.

Mr. Jenkins said his trees were made to bear a good crop of apples every year by pruning and manuring, which he regarded as essential as for any other crop. Had pruned his trees so extensively that he was told they were spoiled, but they continued to thrive and bear abundant crops.

Chairman Thompson presented a paper on the canning industry, which is published in this report. At the close of the paper the subject of ensilage came up incidentally, and the discussion of the same was continued for an hour in a very earnest and interesting manner. The discussion indicated that cut ensilage was preferable to whole, that excessive weighting

was unnecessary, and that the Sanford or some other variety of corn that would mature before put into the silo was better than the large varieties of ensilage corn. Fifteen tons of mature corn were considered equal in feeding value to twenty-five tons of large-size corn composed of stalks and leaves.

Charles McDaniel, of Springfield, member of the Board from Sullivan county and master of the State Grange, was introduced and spoke earnestly for the Grange, presenting the advantages of organization, and discussing at length the results brought about by this organization. He referred to the legislation that has been secured, both state and national, and to the educational, social, and financial advantages of the order. Mr. McDaniel's address is published in full in this report.

At the evening session a larger audience assembled, nearly two hundred being in attendance, comprising many farmers' wives and daughters of this flourishing agricultural town. The subject of co-operative creameries had been announced for the evening meeting, and the recent establishment of Oyster River Creamery in Durham created a special interest in this subject. George H. Dodge, of Henniker, president of the Contoocook Valley Creamery Association, was the first speaker. He spoke of the early methods in the practice of dairying, of the excessive work devolving upon the farmers' wives at that time, and of the lack of uniformity in the product. With the establishment of creameries a uniform article is made, and the average quality largely improved. The average price of dairy butter in the Boston market last year was from fifteen to seventeen cents per pound, while the average price of creamery butter for the year was twenty-two cents. The creamery at Henniker had paid its patrons a higher price for the cream at the farmer's door than those selling milk had realized at the car. He urged the establishment of creameries for the advancement of the dairy interests of the State.

W. S. Meserve, superintendent of Oyster River Creamery, followed, advancing many reasons why the creamery was an advantage to the farmers of Durham. Although just started, there was every reason to expect success. Various questions

were asked in regard to the comparative merits of the Cooley and separator processes.

Hon. J. D. Lyman, of Exeter, member of the Board from Rockingham county, was the next speaker, upon the subject of forestry and improvements in agriculture. Close attention was given to this interesting and at times felicitous address. Many leading thoughts expressed by the speaker are contained in the paper by Mr. Lyman, published in this report.

The exercises of the evening were enlivened with excellent music by Mrs. Watson, of Durham. The meeting was considered successful and the attendance satisfactory to those who had the arrangements in charge.

ROCHESTER.

The institute at Rochester on the following day was held at Grange Hall, both afternoon and evening sessions being fully attended. The speakers and subjects were similar to those at Durham, except that the ensilage discussion was omitted and a "Commercial Fertilizers and their Application" was paper on presented by Mr. George R. Drake, of Pittsfield. This paper will be found in the report.

A lively discussion was developed by this paper, engaged in by Dr. Pierce, of Bellows Falls, Mr. G. H. Dodge, of Henniker, Mr. F. P. Wentworth, of Rochester, Mr. James M. Hayes, of Dover, Mr. Gerrish, and other farmers. One gentleman thought fertilizers were only stimulants. Mr. Lyman thought that was not the right word. Mr. Hayes thought the fact that the purchases were largely increasing and that they were considered as capital by market gardeners demonstrated their value. Mr. Gerrish said we were wise enough to nourish our children when young and tender, until they grew to reach out and do for themselves. He would assist the young and tender plants in the same way until their roots could expand and grasp their food from the crude animal manures so imperfectly applied to the soil. Mr. Wentworth is entitled to much credit for faithfully attending to the arrangements for the institute at Rochester.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.

FREMONT.

The first institute for Rockingham county was held at Fremont, March 7, a good number of practical farmers being present from Fremont and neighboring towns. The afternoon session was called to order at 2 o'clock by Hon. J. D. Lyman, member of the Board for Rockingham county, with cordial words of greeting to the audience assembled. President Humphrey was then called upon, needing no introduction to the farmers of this section of the State. His subject was corn raising, on which he spoke for about an hour, being accorded close attention. At the close of his remarks Mr. Holt, of Epping, familiarly known as "Farmer Holt," made a characteristic speech, in which some ideas advanced by the president were antagonized. President Humphrey made suitable and convincing reply. Mr. Lucien Thompson, of Durham, member of the Board for Strafford county, then presented the subject of the canning industry, which elicited numerous inquiries and considerable interest. The discussion of the corn question was then resumed, participated in by Messrs. Lyman, Thompson, the secretary, and others.

At the evening session the subject of dairying was presented by the secretary, followed with a general discussion of the same. Mr. Lyman discussed the subject of potato culture, with forestry and general improvements in agriculture incidentally appended. The subject was presented in Mr. Lyman's forcible and convincing manner. The session was closed with remarks by President Humphrey upon the grand opportunities available by the energetic farmer who would use the energy and study necessary for success in professional or mercantile pursuits. Much credit is given Messrs. G. F. Beede and A. F. Sanborn, of Fremont, for interest and influence in making the institute successful and well attended.

SOUTH HAMPTON.

An institute was held at South Hampton on the following day, by invitation of the Farmers' Club of that town. For a report of the proceedings we publish an article which appeared in the "People and Patriot" the following week, from the pen of Mr. Joseph J. J. Sawyer, the efficient secretary of the South Hampton Farmers' Club:

"The meeting of the Board at South Hampton passed off as pleasantly and successfully as could have been desired. The attendance at the afternoon meeting was not far from eighty, and that in the evening in the vicinity of one hundred. We were pleased to notice a liberal sprinkling of ladies at both sessions. The meeting of the previous day having taken place at Fremont, and there being no public conveyance from there to this place, Mr. George F. Beede and Mr. A. F. Sanborn, of that place, kindly volunteered to take the party to this town by private conveyance. The party arrived in due time, and consisted of President Humphrey, Secretary Bachelder, County Member Lyman, and Mr. Lucien Thompson, Strafford county member.

"The meeting was called to order by County Member Hon. J. D. Lyman, who, after a few remarks complimentary to the Farmers' Club which had arranged for a meeting at this place, introduced President Humphrey, who delivered one of his strong, practical talks on corn culture. Col. J. M. Weare, of Seabrook, an ex-member of the Board, at the conclusion of the president's address took some exceptions to the remarks of the former, and gave some results of his experience that differed from that of Mr. Humphrey.

"Mr. Lucien Thompson, Strafford county member, gave an address on the subject of the co-operative canning industry, which was well received. Both of the speakers, incidentally to their subjects, took occasion to allude to the silo system and give it their indorsement, which elicited quite a number of inquiries from those present interested in that direction.

"Mr. J. H. Hill, of Amesbury, Mass., a member of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, and Mr. David Smith, of