INSTITUTES.

COOS COUNTY.

STEWARTSTOWN.

In accordance with previous arrangement, institutes were held in Coös county the first week in November. Representatives of the Board left North Stratford, a village on the Grand Trunk Railroad and the connecting point of the Upper Coös road, Tuesday morning, November 1. Mr. S. B. Whittemore, member of the Board from Coös county, was unavoidably absent, and we were met at the station by Mr. S. T. Noyes, an intelligent and extensive farmer of Colebrook. The drive along the Connecticut valley is through one of the finest farming sections of the State, and frequent halts were made to examine and admire the fine stock upon these fertile farms.

Stewartstown Hollow, eighteen miles from leaving the railroad, was reached, and an evening session in the town hall held. Mr. Noyes presided, and with brief opening remarks introduced the secretary, who, after speaking of the work of the Board and the efforts being made for the advancement of the farming interests of the State, depicted the apparent needs of New Hampshire agriculture. The secretary said:

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen :

There are in New Hampshire 32,181 farms, at an estimated value of $75,834,389. The farming tools and implements are valued at $3,069,240, and live-stock at $9,812,064. According

to the last census, there were grown in the State 36,612 acres of corn, 29,485 acres of oats, 28,778 acres of potatoes, and 583,069 tons of hay. The butter production amounted to 7,247,272 pounds, cheese 807,076 pounds, and wool 1,060,589 pounds. About one half the population of the State are engaged in agricultural pursuits.

In the United States corn is reckoned the most valuable crop, being placed at twice the value of the hay product. Only five States average as many bushels of corn per acre as New Hampshire, and the market price per bushel of corn in our State is more than twice the average of the United States. It is no doubt true of New Hampshire, as of other early settled States, that continued cropping has reduced the productive capacity of the soil. In view of this fact it becomes necessary to consider how we can feed to the best possible advantage the products of the farm.

While there are many farmers in our midst who may be commended for the superior stock which they are breeding, it is equally true that in many instances it is lamentably inferior and undesirable, returning to its owners as profit but a fraction of the value of feed consumed. This may be illustrated by the story of the farmer who kept the same hog for seven years because he continued to consume the waste from the kitchen successfully. It is for a lack of energy and enterprise, a want of system, and often through ignorance or misinformation, that farmers continue to raise and feed unprofitable animals. The most charitable construction we can put upon their practice of keeping poor stock is to suppose that they simply and thoughtlessly keep it because they happen to have it. This practice seriously cripples our income as farmers, as may be seen when we consider that the average cow makes only one hundred pounds of butter yearly, while those who use skill and judgment in selecting and breeding their dairy stock can make two or The same is measurably true regarding three times that amount. farm animals of all kinds. Farmers should consider these things, and immediately take steps for the improvement of stock by an infusion of fresh blood, from approved strains. This is one of our greatest needs in New Hampshire agriculture.

Another need is more thought and system in our business. The farms of New Hampshire average 115 acres each. Brains, as well as muscle, are required, in order to successfully produce the crops best adapted to the soil and locality, planting only the best varieties and cultivating and harvesting them in the most economical manner. Business ability is needed in finding the best markets at remunerative prices. Such ability and requirements count for as much in agriculture as in any other business. We should be familiar with the cost of producing every salable product of the farm. Then we may learn to reduce the cost, thus increasing the profit. The introduction of improved machinery and methods is highly important, and therefore an important need in our agriculture.

Another thing we believe to be important is the utilization of waste products. Upon many New Hampshire farms a large amount of fertilizing material is allowed to run to waste, and enough in the State, if properly saved and applied, to equal in value all commercial fertilizers purchased. This may be largely done by the use of absorbents.

We are forcibly impressed that another serious need is faith in the business. Farmers are inclined to think that some other business would be more remunerative than their own. It is a fact that any farmer owning an average size farm (115 acres), conveniently located and suitably divided into tillage, pasturage, and woodland, has a business that will bring a better income than what would seem a liberal salary in any trade or profession. The exercise of more faith in agriculture will have a tendency to keep more boys at home on the farm, and will result in profitable investment of surplus cash in farm improvements.

Another serious need is the economy of time and labor. It is a lamentable fact that farmers, as a class, waste much valuable time, not so much in doing things that are not necessary as in failing to perform the work of the farm and the care of the stock in the most economical manner. Farmers work hours enough, but not always to the best advantage.

Another important need is organization. No trade or profession exists without organization for protection and advancement. There is a reluctance on the part of the farmers to grasp the

benefits of co-operation and organization that is not seen among other classes. We believe the agriculture of New Hampshire sustains one of its greatest needs in the way of organization. It is true that the Grange is accomplishing much in this direction, yet more than one half the towns of the State are without any farmers' organization. We earnestly recommend organized effort.

Mr. J. L. Gerrish, of Webster, who had accompanied the representatives of the Board, presented the subject of sheep husbandry, and his address will be found in the appropriate place in this report. Chairman Noyes spoke of sheep husbandry as specially adapted to Coös county, and was followed by other gentlemen present in an interesting discussion. Considerable interest was manifested in creameries, and the remainder of the evening was devoted to this subject, the leading features of the different systems being discussed by Mr. Gerrish and the secretary. The immediate prospect of the advantages of a new railroad in this section has caused a renewed interest in farming, and perhaps the time is not far distant when the closed starch factories of Coös county will be opened for creameries, for the support of which the rich pastures and abundant hay crop are well adapted. The attendance at this meeting and interest manifested in the subjects presented exceeded the anticipations. of the Board.

COLEBROOK.

The forenoon of the day following the meeting at Stewartstown was spent in inspecting the farm and stock owned by Mr. Noyes, who has been referred to by a previous writer as one of the best farmers in New Hampshire. His farm is located on one of the heavy swells of land abounding in this vicinity. One hundred tons of hay is the crop annually grown and fed to thoroughbred Durham stock and some of the finest grade Durham and Hereford steers we have yet seen.

He also has a

superior flock of cross-bred sheep. Fourteen hundred bushels of potatoes, grown on five acres of land, were a fine lot, and have already been sold for the Boston market, waiting shipment until the opening of the railroad.

Afternoon and evening sessions were held at the town hall in the village of Colebrook, the speakers and subjects being similar to those of the previous day, with the exception of a strong re-enforcement in the person of Hon. J. D. Lyman, of Exeter, member of the Board from Rockingham county, who presented the subject of improvements in agriculture and forestry. Mr. Lyman's address is published in full in this report. Numerous questions upon the subjects presented were asked by the audience, and a good degree of interest manifested.

STRATFORD.

Mr. Noyes accompanied the representatives of the Board to North Stratford the next morning, where we parted company with our intelligent and genial friend, and went by train to Stratford Hollow. At this place the people had been misinformed as to the time of meeting, so that in the afternoon it was not large, although there were some leading farmers present from quite a distance, besides those living near the village. Mr. Gerrish first gave a sheep talk, in a familiar way, being followed by numerous questions by the few sheep farmers present, which evidenced an increased interest in sheep husbandry in this section. Mr. Lyman made an unusually strong talk on the encouraging features for the consideration of the farmers and citizens of New Hampshire.

An evening session being desired, although not advertised on the bills, it was thought best to hold one, at which a good audience was present, including a large number of farm boys, who listened to appropriate words from Mr. Lyman, in continuation of his talk of the afternoon. Mr. Gerrish and the secretary occupied the remainder of the evening in general remarks on the agriculture of the State.

WHITEFIELD.

At Whitefield on the following day two sessions were held in the Grange Hall at Hazen's Mills. Two spirited talks were given by Mr. Lyman, and the subject of sheep husbandry, presented by