Blackberries about two-thirds of a crop. Vines somewhat killed by the winter. John Morris, of Manalapan, reports from one acre sold 4,679 quarts, for which he received $400. Grapes very little grown for market. John Vanderver reports from 3 acres of Concord grapes, 19 tons. Melons of various kinds were abundant and sold very low, not paying shipping expenses in many instances. Considerable attention is given to the raising of poultry, and is considered to be profitable where carefully managed. Swine-breeding is not a very prominent agricultural industry, only in Upper Freehold township, and it will be still less in the future. The hog cholera has prevailed to an alarming extent in some sections, and it is to be regretted that a pestilence so prevalent, and carrying disaster and financial loss to so many farmers (for many have lost their whole herds), has not been made a subject of more thorough investigation. The production of milk is rapidly increasing, as there is a growing demand for it, and many are turning their attention in this channel. Feeding of cattle for beef is decreasing, as there is but little profit, if any, directly. REPORT BY EDWARD BODIE. Of herd-registered cattle in Monmouth county, we have of Jerseys 16 herds, comprising 206 animals; Holsteins, 5 herds, in numbers 56; Shorthorns, 1 herd of 26 head, and 1 herd of Guernseys. Six of our breeders contributed to the public sales the past year, in New York City. J. V. N. Willis, of Marlboro, 21 animals sold for $9,458; Milton Smock, Marlboro, 4 for $1,175; D. Arthur Vanderveer, Freehold, 5 for $1,165. Of private sale, Willis is credited in one lot of 8 calves, his own breeding, $3,450; 1 cow, $2,500. McDermott & Sutphin, 1 calf, $500, and 3 yearlings, $862. While most of our farmers are conservative in their views as regards thoroughbred cattle, it is to be regretted they do not see the necessity of a pure bull to head their herds. Those producing veal and beef should have a pure bull, either Shorthorn, Hereford or Holstein; for the dairy, a pure Jersey or Holstein. Of the Holsteins, for beef, we have had good specimens at our county fair of calves six months old weighing 600 pounds. For milk yield, D. Arthur Vanderveer, of Freehold, from 6 Jersey cows, sold, from August 1st to January 15th, 13,220 quarts of milk, at 4 cents per quart. Treasurer CHAS. H. BUTCHER......... Manager of Horse Department..GEO. F. WARD....... ...Freehold. ..Freehold. Freehold. Freehold. Hon. WILLIAM SPADER, L. F. CONOVER, MANAGERS. THOS. E. MORRIS, Col. C. D. HENDRICKSON, Annual Fair, September 7th, 8th and 9th. GEO. F. WARD, In looking over the operations of the Society for the year ending January 1st, 1886, it is with a great deal of satisfaction we note the fact of the improvement in our exhibition, both as to the quality and number of exhibits, and it appears to us that in the future the Society is to occupy a prominent position in the rank of like societies in this or any other State; which our old county of Monmouth is certainly entitled to. The labors of the managers and officers have met with good results. Total indebtedness of Society, January 14th, 1886.... $8,455 48 Not only the managers of the Society, but the stockholders, feel greatly encouraged with the outlook for the future. Knowing the interest taken in our exhibitions, we all feel that, can the fair of 1886 be favored with fair weather, the report of next year will be more interesting than for 1885. There is some talk of changing the time of the annual fair from the second week in September to the last week of September or first week in October. As we were favored by fair weather while holding our exhibition, another successful year crowned our efforts, giving substantial proof that the West Jersey Agricultural Association has become a fixed institution. Remarks were made "That our fairs had outgrown the Executive Committee." Notwithstanding, we are expending on permanent improvements annually from $1,000 to $1,500. To draw the people we must be liberal in advertising, and offer a premium list sufficiently large to attract competition. But we are compelled to bear the criticism of many, because we allow the trial of speed by horses. But when we know that three-fourths of the people are interested in the horse, whether they be citizens or farmers, we think best to gratify their desire and enjoy their presence, giving to us ample funds to make the premium list on agricultural products sufficiently interesting to attract rivalry, thereby guaranteeing the real object of holding fairs. The question is frequently asked, are the fairs of any benefit to agriculture? Compare the improvement in stock, grain, vegetables, poultry, fancy work and machinery, as we find it to-day, with that which the country could produce thirty years ago. A fair judgment and an honest decision will admit that the great improvement has been brought about by facilities offered by competition at our annual fairs. As the greater part of our county is a heavy loam soil, the crops grown are wheat, corn, oats, hay and potatoes, while dairying is becoming a very important branch of our industry. Growing early lambs for the New York market is not without its profit, as some have already been sold and shipped from Woodstown, which, by the price paid, would require the consumer to pay about $1 per pound, if the middle men receive a profit. Our soil being well adapted to the growth of tomatoes, factories have been erected with sufficient capacity to place the county second, if not first, in the annual pack of counties in the United States. The hog cholera has been prevalent in some parts of our county, and one dairy has been visited with pleuro-pneumonia. We have no experimental crops to report. Grain of all kinds last year was very near an average, while potatoes were far above, and of good quality; the hay crop was short. I am satisfied, by observation and experience, the failure to grow crops might, in a great measure, be prevented. Protect the young grass as we would a field of grain, and the complaint will not be so general. The pasturing of the young plants leaves the roots exhausted and unprotected, with little energy to produce growth in a soil which becomes hard and lifeless when left in such condition. |