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which the owner or person harboring the same shall reside, and shall place upon the neck of each dog or bitch so kept or harbored, a collar having engraved thereon, upon a metal surface, the name of the owner of said dog or bitch, and the registry number * thereof, and it shall be lawful for any person to kill any dog or bitch found straying off the owner's premises, without such collar upon its neck.

2. And be it enacted, that it shall be the duty of the clerk of each township or ward in this State to provide a book for the purpose of registering the owner's name of every dog or bitch, and the number, numbering them in the order of the owner's applying for said registration, and giving to each person information of the registered number thereof, and for so doing shall receive the sum of ten cents for each dog or bitch thus registered. The person applying for registration shall pay the sum of one dollar for each dog or bitch thus registered, of which amount the clerk shall receive the sum of ten cents for each registration, the balance to be appled to paying damage done by dogs. In case of no damage, the same to applied to the school fund. There shall be a penalty of ten dollars for each and every neglect or refusal of the said clerk so to register.

3. And be it enacted, that all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act be and the same are hereby repealed.

4. And be it enacted, that this act shall take effect immediately.

The last meeting of the Board was addressed by Prof. Samuel Lockwood, of Freehold, on "Our Insect Friends and Foes," which was followed by a discussion on "Noxious Weeds."

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ASKED BY STATE BOARD.

1. Organizations.-Two Granges, one Agricultural Association and one Fruit Grower's Association. Membership, five hundred and ninety.

2. Wages per month, with board, $15 to $18.

3. Wages, without board, from $28 to $30 per month.

4. Farmers generally board their help.

5. More single than married men, for the reason that married men generally locate in the towns.

6. Farm labor is principally American born Irish, a few Germans and some colored.

7. One silo in the county.

8. Siloage is losing favor with the farmers.

9. Čorn is used for siloage.

10. No farmers depending on soiling their cattle.

11. Root crops are being more grown as a winter feed, and if

all farmers knew their value, more would grow them.

12. Milk business is on the increase, there being a demand for it at our summer resorts.

13. Wheat, oats and corn are receiving less attention than ten years ago.

14. Hay, potatoes, fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes, are receiving more attention.

15. Many farmers have quit keeping sheep on account of the damage done by dogs, which are increasing in number.

16. Fattening hogs for market is decreasing.

17. There has been no loss by hog cholera or other disease. 18. The poultry interest is receiving increased attention.

19. Cholera is the prevailing disease, but there is little loss. 20. Farmers are fattening less cattle each year, on account of the low price at which Western beef is placed upon our markets. 21. Generally buy Northern calves, excepting those who keep thoroughbreds. Buy Western cattle to fatten.

22. No disease introduced by imported stock, but pleuropneumonia is introduced by stock from other States.

23. Natives are the most popular cows for general purposes although many keep Jersey stock.

24. There are two successful creameries.

25. No special action has been taken, looking to the general improvement of the roads.

26. Complaint is made of the manner in which the money is spent, as so little improvement is received for it. Also of the toll roads. Many think all roads should be free.

27. Farmers need lower taxes, lower wages and more co-operation in selling and buying and more home markets,

28. We receive benefit from Experiment Station.

29. All those who understand the analyses of fertilizers appreciate them and use them as a guide in purchasing.

30. Weather Signal Service not used.

31. Fruit trees, principally pears and small fruits, are on the increase.

32. Spraying of fruit trees and vines but little practiced, but where used has met with success. Paris Green is used.

CROPS.

Apples.-The apple crop was rather light and poor in quality, with the exception of the earlier varieties, which were a fair yield. Price from $1.50 to $2.00 per barrel.

Pears. This was an average crop, with quality of fruit very fair and prices good, ranging from $2.50 to $6 per barrel. The Keiffer was the largest yielder. A great many trees were planted the past fall.

Peaches.-The crop very light and of inferior quality. few trees net the past year.

Very

Small Fruits.-Small fruits are being more extensively grown, as there is an increasing demand for them at our summer resorts, where they demand a price which leaves the producer a fair margin of profits.

Wheat. The wheat crop was much below the average. The cause is unaccountable, for there was a good growth of straw, but upon thrashing, the yield was found to be very light. The largest yield I have heard of was grown by W. S. Combs, at Freehold. Upon a field of fifteen acres he had an average of twentyeight bushels per acre. The fall sowing is looking very well at present, having made a good growth.

Rye. In the rye crop, there was a good growth of straw, the heads were filled and the yield was fully up to the average. Charles M. Bruere, of Cream Ridge, harvested two hundred and sixteen bushels from six acres, an average of thirty-six bushels per acre, some of the straw being eight feet and two inches high. Straw is now selling for $14 to $15 per ton.

Oats. These are so little grown that they can scarcely be called a crop in the county.

Corn.-Corn is not grown so extensively, as a crop, as in

former years, but was a good crop on the average. Many

farmers raise only enough for their own use, as other crops pay better. J. H. Denise reports, from a field of five acres, an average of eighty-three bushels per acre, the ground being manured and phosphated.

Hay. The hay crop was the largest ever gathered in the county. The average yield being one hundred and ten per cent. J. H. Denise raised nineteen tons and nine hundred and twenty

five pounds on five acres, an average of three tons and one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five pounds, being raised on a piece of ground that has been mowed for five years in succession and still in good condition. This shows that ground can be mowed for any number of years and still increase the yield by the use of fertilizers each year. He also reports, on forty-five acres, an average of three and one-fourth tons, equal to one hundred and forty-six and one-fourth tons, this having been mowed three and four years, all of which was fertilized or covered with ma

nure.

Potato. The potato crop was fully up to the average. It came up better than some years ago, and many fields yielded one hundred barrels per acre. Some of the later ones rotted somewhat. The average price was $1.20 to $1.50 per barrel.

Tomato. The tomato crop was an average one, and would have been extra large had not the frost come so early. Tomato growing is increasing, and many farmers think it one of our best paying crops.

Melons. The melon crop was very large, and quality good, but prices were very low.

Considerable attention is being paid to the raising of poultry, and it is increasing, there being a good market for it on our seashore.

Stock is in good condition and apparently no disease at present. We were visited last May with the first case of pleuropneumonia. It was found in five herds, and believed to be brought there by stock purchased in the fall or winter. Ten died and twenty-six were killed.

The sheep industry is still on the decrease, and unless we can secure better protection from dogs, we shall have to number it with the industries that have ceased, to make room for worthless dogs.

The increasing demand for milk is causing many to turn their attention to its production, which is more profitable than feeding stock and fattening calves.

The subject of roads is one in which the farmers feel a great

interest-having good roads without being toll roads. Many believe that the county should own all the roads.

Each year, many of our farmers have made a desperate effort to outdo the previous years, and in these stirring times, while busy brains are thinking out the knotty problems that surround the bread winners in the world's great workshops, the same spirit of unrest has entered the modern practice of agriculturists. The first symptoms of improvement in this direction is to become dissatisfied with our present surroundings. That the farmers of Monmouth county have learned to become dissatisfied with the former environments, and are fully imbued with the spirit of progress and abreast of the times, is seen by the herds of improved breeds of all classes of live stock, of the improved machines for planting, cultivating and harvesting various crops, by the many cooperative measures entered into by our farmers to improve themselves materially and mentally, and not only to improve the standard of intelligence in their class, but to secure the increased comforts which an elevated intelligence always insists upon. It is to be regretted, however, that so many farmers do not have this spirit of progressiveness, but are content with the old ways laid down by their forefathers.

REPORT OF MONMOUTH FAIR ASSOCIATION.

BY C. D. B. FOREMAN, SECRETARY.

This year is the first in the existence of the association, and, in almost all respects, may be termed a most successful one.

The annual fair was held on the old fair grounds of the Monmouth County Agricultural Society, at Freehold, on September 25th, 26th and 27th. The exhibits were far superior to any ever held in the county, and visitors pronounced them fully equal to any in the State.

This great success is principally due to the faithful and untiring labors of the eleven directors, who, with but few exceptions, were earnestly interested in the cause.

The annual report of the treasurer showed on hand a balance

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