The secretary read a letter at the close of the discussion from Hon. John D. Lyman, of Exeter, who was to speak on forestry, saying that he was unavoidably absent, having been called to New York to attend a forestry convention.

The exercises were enlivened with music by Capital Grange choir, and the "Bobolink" was finely rendered by Miss Sarah E. Hart, of Concord.

At this point adjournment was made.

The morning session of Thursday was opened with an address by Prof. C. H. Pettee, of the Agricultural College, Hanover, on "The Present Status of Agricultural Colleges," which will be found in this volume. A discussion ensued at the close of the address heartily indorsing and supporting the Agricultural College.

Mr. Philbrick said our Agricultural College should have the sympathy and support of the farmers. He thought it had done much good despite the prejudices. They should give the enterprise their support.

Mr. Rossiter, of Claremont, said he indorsed the remarks of the last gentleman.

Mr. L. T. Hazen, of Whitefield, said experiment stations combine both theory and practice. He was employing a graduate of the college and paid him six dollars a month more than he would otherwise give him, as such knowledge made his services valuable. What was wanted was the theory, then the practice.

Chairman Humphrey was glad to see a disposition to sustain the college.

Mr. F. H. Colby, of Hopkinton, a college student, said a few words in praise of the same.

Mr. J. L. Gerrish, of Webster, said he believed the college was turning out good goods, and that was the best advertisement they could have.

Mr. N. F. Lund, of Concord, president of the State Poultry Association, delivered an address upon "The Poultry Industry," published in full in this report. A discussion followed the presentation of the subject.

Mr. Philbrick asked if the larger varieties ate more than the small, as he could not find out as they did.

Mr. Lund thought they would, as the smaller kinds commenced to lay earlier.

Mr. Philbrick had tried the different breeds, and the cost per day was about three fourths of a cent.

Mr. C. H. Waterhouse, Short Falls, asked: Why are the dark eggs richer? Will feed affect the quality?

Mr. Lund: Yes.

Mr. McDaniel: Is it profitable to buy the patent feeds?

Mr. Lund: Yes, in health of the fowls.

Mr. Philbrick: I feed lime, but the eggs are soft shelled; what shall I do?

Mr. Lund: Feed lime in some other form.

Question: How about iron for their health?

Mr. Lund: Feed copperas in small doses, or water in a rusty trough.

Before closing, Mr. Lund called attention to the great waste of hen manure, which he regarded as an excellent fertilizer, worth much more than it was usually reckoned when sold. He would mix four parts of loam with one of manure.

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Mr. L. T. Hazen, of Whitefield, delivered an address upon Ensilage," which will be found in this report. At the close of the address Mr. J. G. Tallant, of East Concord, asked what kind of corn he raised.

He answered: The larger western corn, but the larger kinds of flint corn might be raised farther south than his locality and the ears picked off.

Mr. Charles McDaniel, of Springfield, asked if he had fed it to sheep.

Mr. Hazen: I have not.

Question: Will the fumes of a bad silo affect milk?
Mr. Hazen: Yes.

Hon. D. H. Goodell, of Antrim, next spoke. He said ensilage was the best feed in winter one could possibly have, and in his section young cattle could be made to grow more on ensilage and grain than in the pasture. He was satisfied that the silo had come to stay when he built his in 1881. He felt the same to

day. Ensilage feed would not only make more milk, but he had demonstrated that it made more spaces of cream, as he sold it. He had personal knowledge of but one man who was dissatisfied with the silo among all the ensilage men he had talked with in the last seven years. He would give more for the actual experience with his cows than for the theories of the most distinguished men in the matter. He had cows that had been fed on it into the seventh winter, and they remained healthy. He had in some cases fed his young stock entirely on ensilage. He would not recommend to feed more than two thirds. Cattle like a change, whether fed on ensilage or anything else. His cows would give more milk when fed twice a day than when they had a noon feed.

Question: When you say once a day, do you mean that you give all your morning or evening feed, as the case may be, at one time?

Mr. Goodell: No. But I give nothing in the middle of the day; all my cattle lie down quietly then.

Mr. Waterhouse said he got a can of milk more when he omitted the noon feed.

Mrs. A. G. Marshall read an original poem entitled "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-eight," which was greeted with enthusiastic applause. On motion of the secretary, a unanimous vote of thanks was extended Mrs. Marshall for the poem.

At the afternoon session, Mr. Charles McDaniel, of Springfield, member of the Board from Sullivan county and master of the State Grange, delivered an address upon "The Purposes of the Grange," and it will be found in this report. At the close of this address, the subject of ensilage was again taken up, and Prof. Whitcher said that he believed some of the large varieties of flint or of sweet corn were better per acre than the "fishingpole" varieties. The smaller kinds were more mature and contained more nutriment. He raised twenty-five tons per acre, and doubted if fifty could be produced. He could raise three fourths as much northern corn, by weight, as southern. It was nearly mature, September 5, and put in the silo ears and all together. It was in a more mature condition than southern, containing much less water.

Mr. Philbrick asked if the ear analyzed like meal.

Prof. Whitcher: Probably the sugar would be changed.

Mr. Cheever asked if the Sanford corn which he used was properly a sweet corn. He thought the name was applicable to the varieties with a shriveled kernel.

Prof. Whitcher gave tables to show the comparative values of the two kinds, and showed that while the Sanford made butter on a basis of nineteen and one half cents a pound, the large southern made it cost twenty-two cents. Feeding grains with the large kinds, sufficient to bring the product up to the standard of the Sanford, made the butter cost thirty cents a pound. Whatever Prof. Stewart and Mr. Hazen might say of it, he had decided to make a thorough trial of whole ensilage, as the average farmer does not always own the power and cutter necessary, neither can he wait as he does for the threshing machine, for the reason that the silo must be filled before frost and in season to re-seed the corn land to grass. The laboratory sustained him so far as freedom from acid was concerned. He would caution farmers, however, against putting in the "fishing-pole" variety. Farmers would pay five cents for husking, and carry to mill, pay for grinding, and then return the meal to the identical fodder when feeding. They could take off the best ears and grind if they chose, but he believed it the better practice to put both stalk and ear in the silo together.

Mr. Tallant asked in what condition the ears came out.

Prof. Whitcher: Very much like boiled corn in appearance. At this point the discussion was brought to a close, and after a vote of thanks to those who had contributed to the exercises, the institute was formally closed.

In reporting the discussions of this and other institutes of the winter, we here acknowledge assistance from the reports of Mr. J. L. Gerrish, of Webster, as published in the "People and Patriot," and from which we have appropriated some abstracts for our report.

BELKNAP COUNTY.

TILTON.

The first institute of the series in Belknap county was held at Tilton, Monday evening, January 23, with a fair-sized audience in attendance. Mr. G. S. Philbrick, of Tilton, member of the Board from Belknap county, presided, and after brief opening remarks introduced Hon. Joseph B. Walker, of Concord, as the first speaker. Mr. Walker's subject was "Agricultural Improvements within the Past Thirty Years," and he commenced by referring to the system of farming practiced at the beginning of the period. Some of the most important improvements have been made in farm machinery, making all kinds of farm work easier and more rapidly accomplished. Great improvements have been made in the facilities for supplying fertilizing material for the soil, and decided improvements in the stock by which the farmer converts forage and grain crops into a marketable product. He then spoke of the increase and improvement in the agricultural literature, and of the advantages derived from the various agricultural organizations which have come into existence during the time. Still greater results are expected of these in the future by harmonious action. Notwithstanding all these, the elevation of the agriculture of our own State depends upon individual action and effort utilizing the various means of advancement offered. Prof. G. H. Whitcher, of the Agricultural College, followed upon the subject of fertilizers, and in his usual interesting manner explained the needs of the various plants, and some of the sources from which fertilizing material is obtained. His lecture was substantially the same as printed in this report. The secretary followed with general remarks upon the work of the Board. Chairman Philbrick urged the necessity of more thought and experiments by the individual farmer for the greatest success in any branch of agriculture, after which the institute was closed.