yearlings than others, who have not attempted this improvement in breeding, do for those they have to sell.

In sheep, I have bred the coarse and middle wooled varieties, desiring to unite, as far as practicable, the product of wool with mutton. I have had but little experience with the finest wooled sort. Though I began with a flock of grade Merinos, and crossed thereon the Dishley or Leicester, and afterwards the South Down, which last cross made such a decided improvement that I have continued in this breed, and for some years have procured the best South Down bucks which I could find. I have proved this sort of sheep to be hardy, prolific, and excellent nurses, with mutton as well as fleeces of superior quality. More pounds of wool and mutton can be obtained from them than any I have met with. My bucks shear from eight to ten pounds, and my ewes from six to eight pounds of very nice wool, even, elastic, and of medium grade of fineness. In our section of the State (Aroostook) quite an amount of business is transacted in selling sheep to drovers. And it is found that these South Downs drive more quietly and stand their journey better than any others. Grades of this breed will dress from five to ten pounds a carcass heavier than others of the same size live weight, while the mutton is worth more a pound. In fact, as a general rule, the grade South Down lambs bring a half dollar more, and the sheep one dollar more a head than others of the same size.

In choosing breeding sheep stock I pursue the same general course as in the selection of neat stock; and am very careful to take those which have most wool on their bellies and legs; and if at any time I observe one of my sheep disposed to shed her wool, or to have bare legs and belly, I at once turn her off for mutton.

Of swine, I have during my thirty years experience bred pure blood-Mackey, Bedford, Berkshire-(of each of these two last breeds I had the first boar brought to Maine)—White, Berkshire, Newbury White, Suffolk, Essex and Chester. All these have been good breeds, and of great value in improving the swine of our State."

Mr. Anderson agreed with the reporter in many of his points, but not in all. His experience and practice had been to select animals for breeding that are more open than those described in the report. His animals had the recommendation of an eminent Short-Horn breeder of being the best herd of Devons, for dairy

purposes, he had ever seen. He referred to the smallness of the bone of the animals, and considered them the best meat animals. Believed the Chester to be a better breed of swine than the Suffolk.

Mr. Haines never saw any advantage of a large belly in a cow for milk, or an ox for working. As a general thing he liked to see a straight-bellied animal with a broad back. Regarded a cross between the Chester and Suffolk as the best grade of swine for general farm purposes. Finds some difficulty in making a perfect cross between them. Preferred the Suffolk as the best breed to cross from.

Mr. Bigelow. The farmers in my section do not like the Chesters. They have too much bone and do not take on fat readily. Find it difficult to cross them perfectly-some will be all of one kind. Regards the old Newbury White as the best breed ever imported into Somerset county. Wherever they are found you will find good hogs.

Mr. Pratt did not like the Chester Whites. Preferred a cross of the Suffolks for a hog that is to be slaughtered when eight months old.

Mr. Rogers spoke favorably of the old Newbury Whites, and concurred with the gentleman from Somerset.

Mr. Haines gave an account of the old Newbury White breed. They were introduced by Dr. Vaughan of Hallowell, under the name of "Byfield." They were the only pair of pure Newbury Whites ever brought into Maine to his knowledge. They had small ears, short legs, and long bodies.

Mr. Bigelow said the

Somerset county by Mr.

Newbury Whites were introduced into Coburn, father of Ex-Governor Coburn, he obtaining them of Dr. Vaughan. The "Bedfords" were introduced by Dr. James Bates, formerly of Norridgewock.

After some further discussion, the paper was accepted, and left at the disposal of the Secretary.

In this connection, is submitted a memorandum furnished by Hon. S. F. Perley, regarding the gain in weight of several animals, while at pasture, only during the past season:

"Ayrshire bull, 12 months old, from May 2d to Nov. 11, 200 days, gain,

Heifer, cross of Jersey and Ayrshire, 16 months old, from May 2d to

328 lbs.

280

275

Nov. 11, 200 days, gain, Grade Devon heifer, 124 months old, from May 2d to Nov. 11, 200 days, gain, 151 Average of the four, 258 lbs.

Grade Devon steer, 2 years old, during same time, 200 days,

140 lbs.

177 66

As a people we are so much engaged in the accumulation of wealth that we are constantly looking out for the main chance; and to such an extent has this become the case that we sometimes overlook some of the smaller things that would not only help us to secure the desired object, but contribute more to our happiness than the mere acquisition of wealth. Among all the pursuits in which we are engaged, and which contribute to our wealth and happiness, none, we think, is less appreciated than horticulture. And a comparison of this with other industrial pursuits will prove the position. In the year 1847 estimates were made by Mr. Burke, the Commissioner of Patents, showing this interest to be of more importance than has been generally supposed. A comparative statement of the different interests in this place, may not be wholly uninteresting. The whole products of the soil, in round numbers, were $1,144,982,240, while all other pursuits produced but $593,797,735.

The following are some of the leading products, viz: Corn, $215,740,000; wheat, $137,094,600; hay, $106,559,200; cotton, $72,905,000; dairy, $41,220,149; horticultural productions, including orchards, nurseries and gardens, $54,577,533, divided as follows, viz orchards, $8,853,422; nurseries, $724,111; gardens, $45,000,000. It will thus be seen that horticulture, in its various. branches, produces more than the dairy, two-thirds as much as the cotton, and more than one-half as much as the hay crop. The Commissioner estimates five persons to a family, and three gardens to every four families, producing fifteen dollars each, which would give in the aggregate, $45,000,000. Maine, according to this estimate, would have 120,000 families, 90,000 gardens, producing $1,350,000, giving two dollars twenty cents per head for garden products, which amount we think would be consumed if raised in sufficient quantities; and no one we presume will doubt that we can and ought to raise this, or even more, with but little interference with other pursuits. But suppose we estimate the gardens

of Maine at one-half of this number, or three for every eight families, we shall have $675,000, or one dollar and ten cents per head, to consume of garden products. If the estimates of Mr. Burke are correct, that as a nation we consume two dollars and twenty cents per head of these products, and as a State we are producing but half of this amount, then we are sustaining a loss which we cannot well afford.

How this amount should be divided between the vegetable and fruit garden, we are unable to say, but are inclined to believe that one-sixth part of this amount given to small fruits would be a fair estimate, which would give in the aggregate $112,000, or about eighteen and three-quarter cents per head, which amount may be doubled, or even quadrupled, and still leave us unsupplied with these fruits.

In the early settlement of Maine the cultivation of fruit was confined principally to the apple, pear, plum, cherry and currant, from the fact that our pastures and fields produced the strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and some of the other small fruits, in such abundance that any effort in that direction became wholly unnecessary. But a change has come over us. Our soil has become so impoverished that it neither produces them to such an extent or of such fine quality as formerly, (except in the newly settled portions of the State,) and not only that, but hosts of enemies have arisen up to destroy and devour. The cherry and plum have been given up in a great measure, in consequence of the black-knot and curculio; and the currant and gooseberry are suffering to considerable extent from the currant worm and other insects. Thirty years since, the cherry was produced so easily in Androscoggin county that many farmers raised not only enough for their own families, but in sufficient quantities to supply nearly all of their more unfortunate neighbors.

The plum was also raised to considerable extent. We even now obtain the strawberry, raspberry and blackberry, in considerable quantities from our pastures and fields, but as a general rule at a greater cost than we should incur by their cultivation; besides we lose the pleasure which can only be derived from eating one's own productions. Every man who owns one-half acre of ground can supply a family of five or six persons with nearly all the fruits adapted to our climate, besides having sufficient room for a vegetable and flower garden, and unless his buildings are of unusual size, if we except the apple, a much smaller space will

suffice; to prove which I will cite an instance which has come under my own observation. I refer to Mr. E. P. Tobie of Lewiston, who owns thirty square rods of ground, about one-half of which is occupied by buildings and flower garden, from which he furnishes a family of three or four persons with all they need during their season, and a good supply for winter's use, of strawberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, grapes and plums, besides tomatoes, beans, melons, rhubarb, lettuce, &c. He has also some half dozen dwarf pear trees, which have nearly recovered from the effects of the winters of 1856 and 1857, from which he may reasonably expect several bushels of pears yearly. Mr. T. sells from this small spot of ground, with the aid of a small hot-house, more than one hundred dollars' worth annually. Some years he has sold twenty-five dollars worth of grapes, with only three of the most approved sorts of vines in cultivation, and those quite young. The inquiry then arises, if the small fruits are so easily cultivated, why they are not more generally produced, not only by all our farmers in the older portions of our State, but by every person who owns a few rods of ground, no matter what his calling may be, especially clergymen, mechanics and merchants, who so much need the exercise it would give them, to say nothing of the satisfaction they would derive from eating fresh fruit of their own raising-a pleasure that no one can properly appreciate unless he has experienced it. Farmers should cultivate them not only because they can do so as cheap or cheaper than they can obtain them in the usual way, but because they will contribute to the health of their families, and give the younger members a pleasant change from the more arduous and less pleas-. ing labors of the farm. If it was the rule, instead of the exception, to have well managed flower, fruit and vegetable gardens, I think we should see less disposition on the part of our young men to leave agriculture and its kindred pursuits, for less laborious, and perhaps more lucrative employments, but which are far more dangerous in their moral tendencies. If the small fruits can be cultivated with advantage to our health, purse and happiness, then a few general hints as to the manner of their cultivation, &c., may not be wholly unprofitable.

Strawberries. Strawberries are, perhaps, the most popular of all our small fruits, being the first to make their appearance in the spring after a long winter, during which we have been deprived,