MEETINGS IN CHESHIRE.

The board held meetings at Fitzwilliam and Harrisville, in Cheshire county. Messrs. Harvey, Hills, and Adams attended, and at both places the farmers and their families, with many village people, were present. Among the topics discussed were stock, ensilage, fruit-culture, and garden vegetables.

Mr. Harvey, of Surry, who has had three years' experience in feeding ensilage, said he had but little to say in regard to it that he had not before said. The more he used it the more confidence he had in its utility. He had fed it to animals by itself and with dry feed, with and without grain, to cattle old and young, for milk and for growth, and in every case it had proved more valuable than an equal cost of hay or any other fodder. A ton of good hay is not worth more than two tons of ensilage. Mr. Harvey gave the analysis of ensilage, as obtained by the secretary of the board of agriculture. It is as follows,

Mr. Harvey said it is true that seventeen twentieths are water, less than one per cent. is ash,-that there really is not an excess of nutritive material in it; but there is one item brought out by the secretary's analysis which tells in favor of ensilage. It is, that the ratio of the albuminoids and carbohydrates is as one to six,-almost exactly the same as excellent red-top and other fine qualities of well made hay. It takes a large quantity of the feed to satisfy, but the ratio of elements is all right.

Now another point that Mr. Harvey made is this, that the manure made from ensilage alone-no other feed given for a week-is not of great value. This was ascertained by an analysis, made by order of the secretary. It is as follows:

Mr. Harvey stated that these analyses were the fullest of any made, and of great value in a discussion of the subject. The value of the manurial elements, potash, phosphoric acid, and nitrogen, for a ton of the dry manure, is about four dollars.

Mr. Adams discussed the matter of breeding at great length. We will give a few points.

He advised a study of the animals the farmer owns, and select from them the females of the best points for breeding; but use pure-bred sires in all possible cases. Why? Because, if properly bred, they will possess the accumulated good points of many generations, according to the special object for which they have been bred. Breed, too, from those animals that have a high record for butter, milk, or beef, or for whatever specialty is desired.

Don't breed from deformed animals, or those of weak constitutions, or having any disease, or having suffered from accident. Neither breed from those of vicious tempers or objectionable habits of any description.

He would be careful in regard to the first amour of animals, for the benefit to ensue in the subsequent production of young. Don't use very young animals as breeders; wait for a reasonable degree of maturity. Breeding-animals may sometimes be too old, but not often. An old sire will give better progeny than young ones, though it may not be so numerous. Close breeding may be practised only by experienced breeders.

Mr. Hills discussed fruit-growing,-apples, pears, and small fruit.

At the Fitzwilliam meeting, Deacon Buffum, of Winchester, a former member of the board, was present, and addressed the meeting with much spirit, though now more than seventy-five years old. Colonel Reed of Swanzey, Captain J. S. Adams of Fitzwilliam, Mr. Cahill, and others, spoke at the Fitzwilliam meeting.

At the Harrisville session there were present farmers from the neighboring towns of Nelson, Dublin, Hancock, Greenfield, Bennington, etc. Mr. Lakin of Hancock and Mr. Russell of Greenfield took part in the exercises, as did also Hon. Aaron Smith.

At these meetings Mr. William H. Hills, of Plaistow, member from county of Rockingham, gave a talk on market gardening, in which the following statements were made :

In those towns near large cities, where" garden truck is produced, where there is employed one man to an acre of land, a thousand dollars a year are taken for the products sold. The gardeners are shrewd, sharp men, who make every action tell. It is a hard trade to learn, and is sometimes inbred. They apply from ten to twenty cords of manure to the acre. The speaker gave an example of a gardener on whom he had called. The gardener was communicative of plans and practices, but said no one can learn all without practice. It requires practice and a long apprenticeship. The soil must be good, underdrained, and thoroughly tilled. All early crops must be started under glass. Cucumbers are grown under glass, and at first sold at ten or twelve cents apiece, and so with other crops. Celery was instanced, and an explanation made of how it is grown in winter. Onion sets are profitable. They are sown at any time, regardless of frosts. Celery is sown between the rows, and after the onions are harvested the celery is given the soil. Beets for greens were discussed, cabbages also. Acres cropped with early beans are sowed with beets for winter use. The early Wakefield cabbage was spoken of as the best for early market. Among the early cabbages are planted hills of squashes, which occupy the ground as a second crop. Hot-bed frames were described, made on the ground by the use of tim

bers six inches wide, laid parallel and filled with horse manure; afterward loam is spread on, and the seeds are put in.

He spoke of storing squashes so that they do not touch, but are easily accessible, in a room of moderate temperature, at about forty-eight degrees-considerably higher than is required for apples or potatoes. These, in winter, are sold high, at three or four cents a pound. How about bugs? asked a hearer.

The

little striped bug haunts the vines. I subdue them by the use of Paris green and plaster, or green, one part to 100 of water, sprinkled on as we do on potatoes.

In making pickles, put washed cucumbers into weak vinegar for twenty-four hours, and then transfer them to first-rate cider vinegar. Strong vinegar will not eat up pickles.

The squash-borer is a fatal enemy, caused by a fly. The remedy must be something that, by its smell, will drive them and the fly away. The fly that lays the eggs of the onion maggot acts between the 10th and 20th of July. Ammoniacal substances scattered about will drive away the lime in gas tar will drive away the insect. will do the same. I use salt on onions. at low prices.

young trees.

onion fly. QuickHen manure steeped Can get it in Boston

Would apply salt on most garden crops, and on Onions must follow cabbage, beets, or turnips, but never follow the carrot. Onions require firm land.

MEETING AT PLYMOUTH.

It was understood that the Plymouth meeting would be a union with the annual meeting of the Grafton County society, and notices were given accordingly in the surrounding towns, but were not well circulated at the "Railroad hub." Plymouth is great on railroads, and much on normal schools, but rather below zero on agricultural meetings, except at the time of the local fair.

No bills could be found posted in town, while the storm kept outsiders away. There was no Grafton society to be seen or heard, except President Keyes of Ashland, Secretary Baker of Rumney, and Executive Demming of Bath, but they could n't count up a quorum, and therefore adjourned. At the time for the meeting the hall was shut and cold, and a snow-bank was piled before the door to keep out tramps. The key was found,

entrance gained, and a fire was soon burning. One by one hearers came in, until a fair audience was gathered. evening still more were present.

66

In the

The talking was mostly done by Messrs. DeMeritte and Goodell, Messrs. Carr and Adams taking a minor part. The topics were Grass-Growing," by Mr. DeMeritte, who runs a grass farm in Durham. He sells hay and buys fertilizers, but believes the fertility can be maintained in part by cultivation. He plows a little deeper each time, making more soil and securing better harvests. He made one essential point, which is embraced in this: Do not manure so heavily as to cause grass to lodge. This indicates a waste. Manure and plow often, but avoid the danger of manuring too much at once. His soil, which is somewhat heavy, is benefited by working as much as by manuring. His method of seeding is, by preference, to plow in the summer, and lay down to grass before September. Sometimes he sows later; has done it in June, on flat, cultivated corn-fields, at second hoeing; has also sown grass-seed on the snow in March or April. Applies herds-grass, red-top, and a little clover seed-none of them very heavily.

Mr. Goodell spoke on the silo and its uses, advocating it for all farmers, especially for those of limited means.

In the evening Mr. Goodell made an eloquent talk on "The East vs. The West."

Mr.

Mr. Adams and Mr. Carr made short talks on potatoes. Weeks of Rumney, and Mr. Baker of Quincy, in the south part of Rumney, interrogated Mr. Goodell in regard to ensilage, and secured intelligent and satisfactory answers.

MEETING AT LISBON.

At Lisbon the meeting was an enthusiastic one, there being a large attendance, including ladies and young people. Lisbon is a good farming town, producing really all the staple crops of the north. At the opening of the meeting, Mr. Carr, who presided, gave his experience in growing potatoes, and said that in his town (Haverhill) there were two hundred carloads to spare. They would go to the market, but there is no market. His advice was to feed them to stock with other feed: they are very serviceable. He can grow corn after potatoes with a small