Mr. Prince, of Amherst, referred to his experience in raising apples the past season. Many of his neighbors thought the crop so large that there would be no sale for it. He endeavored to comfort them by expressing the opinion that it would be wanted. This had proved to be the case. All the apples and cider had been taken and more were wanted, and at better prices. He thought farmers were often in too much of a hurry; were too impatient to get rid of their crops. If they would exercise a little more patience sometimes they would get better prices.

Mr. Richardson, of Milford, said his experience the past season in raising corn was very similar to that of Mr. Ramsdell. His definition of a successful farmer was one who raised the best crops at the least expense.

Mr. Proctor, of Hollis, defined his idea of a good farmer to be one who improved his farm, who made it better in every respect; not the one who starved it to make a deposit in the bank. With him the past season had been a productive one. All his crops had been good and profitable. He had raised about seventy bushels of corn to the acre.

It was a successful meeting. Quite a large number of the prominent farmers of the county were present, and the discussions were animated and interesting.

MEETING AT WINCHESTER.

The third meeting was held in the town of Winchester, the residence of the member of the board from Cheshire, on the 18th day of January. The meeting was not large at the hour of opening, but closed with a full house. The chairman of the board, Hon. Moses Humphrey, on calling to order made brief remarks covering the object of the gathering, the design of the board to visit as many localities in the state as circumstances would permit, with a view to create a new interest in the agricultural cause. He then announced the first topic to be "Farm Experiences of 1870." He expressed the opinion that, though to some extent crops failed in consequence of drought, farming returned a profit for the past year. He then proceeded to relate his own successes and failures for the year.

The chairman called for volunteers to relate experiences in

farming. No one having a word to offer, Col. Clough, of Canterbury, was called out, and gave an interesting account of his farming operations.

Mr. Sargent, of Hinsdale, followed in an account of his operations on the farm. While he was speaking a party of fifteen vigorous farmers, constituting the Franklin Harvest Club, came in. They reside in the Connecticut river towns, between Winchester and the city of Springfield. They took part in the exercises of the meeting, relating their experiences and contributed much to the interest of the occasion. Mr. Weare, of Winchester, gave incidents in his farm practice, when the morning session terminated. In the afternoon a paper on the "Breeds of Cattle" was read by O. F. R. Waite, of Claremont, who acted as substitute for Col. J. S. Walker, appointed to conduct the discussion on that subject. The speaker gave a history of the several leading breeds, going somewhat into antiquity, statistics, improvements, characteristics of breeds, the principles of breeding, the number of neat cattle, the number in our own state, and their estimated value.

Joseph B. Walker, Esq., of Concord, followed with a clear, comprehensive and valuable paper on "Drainage," based on his own practice.

The paper was discussed by Col. Clough, of Canterbury, and Mr. Sargent, of Hinsdale.

Mr. J. F. Lawrence, of Epping, read a paper on "Manures," the same, with a few changes, as that presented at a former meeting.

This was followed by a rambling discussion, interrogations and answers, regarding various phosphates and other manures, and the way of applying them, in which Mr. Taylor, of Hinsdale, and members of the Franklin Club participated.

The conclusion from the discussion was that in some soils the phosphates were indispensable, in others they were of little use. We must know something of the soil before we apply the corrective.

In the evening an intelligent audience assembled, including a large number of ladies.

The first hour was occupied in a familiar talk on the "Farmer's Winter Duties," by J. O. Adams, secretary of the board.

He was followed by Prof. E. W. Dimond, of the college of agriculture, in an hour's valuable exposure of the numberless frauds in the manufacture of articles of food in common use. He illus

trated his points by the use of chemicals, and performed many very instructive experiments.

The exercises of the meeting closed with resolutions of thanks on the part of the board to the citizens of Winchester for their many courtesies, and to those gentlemen not members of the board who had so cheerfully contributed to the spirit and success of the meeting; while on the other hand, the people of the town expressed great pleasure in the visit which had been made. The Secretary of the Harvest Club returned the thanks of his associates for courtesies and hospitalities extended to them. The meeting then adjourned to re-open at Keene the next day.

MEETING AT KEENE.

The meeting at Keene on the 19th of January was not very unlike that at Winchester, especially in the forenoon.

The Chairman explained the object of the gathering and remarked that in consequence of the absence of some parties who were expected, the programme would be varied somewhat from the original plan. It was then proposed that "Farm Experiences for 1870" be the first topic, and be open to remarks by any one. No one volunteering to speak, the chair called Col. Clough, who spoke for an hour in a very entertaining manner, on the successes of the season, the position of the farmer, his relations to society, the importance of taking a higher stand in social and political life, the need of a better education, more self-reliance, industry and persistence.

Dr. Twitchell, of Keene, spoke briefly and called up Mr. Samuel Woodward, of Keene, a farmer of experience and ability to talk. The forenoon was consumed in relating experiences upon the farm by Messrs. Buffum of Winchester, Allen of Surry, Leverett, Buckminster, Ackerman, of Keene, and occasionally a word from others.

In the afternoon Mr. Waite, of Claremont, repeated his Winchester talk about "Breeds of Cattle" which led to discussion, calling out Messrs. Buffum, Reed, Hardy and Woodward, when an adjournment was carried to the evening session.

A large audience assembled in the evening. It was anticipated

that Prof. Dimond would remain and occupy some portion of the meeting, and there were some reasons to expect Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, who is a native of that county, but neither could be present. In order to occupy the time, the Secretary of the Board repeated his Winchester remarks, with some additions, relating to the farmer's work in winter time, which commanded an attentive audience for an hour, after which there was some discussion, and the farmers present demanded that another hour be spent in considering the question of commercial fertilizers.

Mr. Lawrence, of the board, opened the subject with a few remarks, and was followed by several brief and intelligent talks by the farmers present, the substance of which was that to succeed in farming we must have manure, and when we can't get that from the stable, we must use the phosphates.

At a little past nine, after the passage of complimentary resolulutions to the citizens of Keene for courtesies, and to gentlemen who had aided the board, the meeting adjourned, leaving, as we have reason to believe, a good impression on the minds of Cheshire farmers, and receiving from them words of earnest good will.

MEETING AT LEBANON.

The board of agriculture called the fifth meeting in the winter series at Lebanon on invitation of the farmers' club of that place, on Monday evening, the 6th of February. Prior to the opening of the exercises, members of the board and several other gentlemen made a visit to Hanover and the Agricultural College. After spending a few hours in looking over the new building, the farm, the college libraries, museum, laboratory and philosophical apparatus, they returned to Lebanon in season for the evening work.

The meeting was held in the Town Hall. Mr. James Wood, president of the Lebanon club, called to order, and introduced Mr. Humphrey, the president of the board of agriculture, who presided. The chairman spoke for a few minutes and introduced Joseph B. Walker, Esq., of Concord, who has attended most of the meetings of the board, and made himself essentially serviceable by presenting the important subject of drainage. He repeated his lecture on that subject. A splendid discussion followed in which

Col. Clough, James Wood of Lebanon, and Mr. Walker participated, keeping up the interest until a late hour.

The exercises were resumed at 9 o'clock the next morning, when the subject of wheat growing was first considered. Mr. M. D. Lawrence, of Massachusetts, occupied the first portion of the time assigned, and was followed by Mr. Baker of Lebanon, Mr. Walker of Concord, and others.

A studied and valuable address on the subject of "Sheep Breeding" was given by Dr. Mason, the Carroll county member of the board.

An animated and profitable discussion followed, participated in by Dr. Smalley of Lebanon, N. B. Safford, Esq., a member of the Vermont Board of Agriculture, Messrs. Worthen, Wood, Baker and Miller of Lebanon, Col. Clough of Canterbury, Dea. Buffum of Winchester and O. S. Bliss of Vermont.

The afternoon session was one of especial interest and was sustained with great ability.

The first exercise was an impromptu talk on the subject of "Dairying," by O. S. Bliss, Esq., of Vermont, secretary of the Dairymen's Association. This led to a prolonged debate on the profit of dairying compared with sheep culture.

The principal speakers were Dea. Buffum of Winchester, Mr. Safford of White River Junction, Col. Clough of Canterbury, Messrs. Duncklee, Dyer, Crafts, Breck and Noyes of Lebanon, and Palmer of Orford.

The evening session was well attended. The first hour was occupied with an address by James O. Adams, secretary of the board, on "Mental and Social Culture among Farmers."

Prof. Dimond, of the college of agriculture, was the next speaker, and made an enthusiastic address on the "Struggles and Demands of Science on the Business and Social World," and closed by a defence of scientific agriculture.

ture.

Dea. Buffum said he desired to express the satisfaction he had felt as a member of the board in his visit to the college of agriculHe thought every farmer should look upon it with pride. He intended to send a boy there, and was not afraid he would be ill-treated. He commended the management of the college in high terms, and said the farmers had more to learn than men of any other profession. They need science at every step. He wished we were as deeply interested in agriculture as we should be.