336 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



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Maine but throughout New England, we find a wholly undue 

 proportion above fifty or below twenty years of age. 



No other feature of New England agriculture more attracts the 

 attention of thinking men at the present time than this depop- 

 ulation of our farming districts, and deservedly too, for it is 

 worthy of full investigation ; and its proper understanding I 

 believe to be fraught with deeply instructive lessons. 



Not a few see in it evidence of the rapid decline of the agri- 

 cultural interests. Such are ready to conclude that if we would 

 avoid extinction as a people, we must in the future, look solely 

 to our ice and our granite and other rocks, and to the utilization 

 of our water power by artizans who shall be fed upon western 

 grown food transported hither by railroads, and permit our fields 

 to revert to the production of wood and timber. 



The press occasionally utters lamentations over this factf as sad 

 in their tone as those of the doleful prophet of old, and if they are 

 not quite so long drawn it may be only because, in this fast age, 

 people will not stop long enough to read editorials of tedious 

 length, but belt their mental food after the style of a railroad din- 

 ner — " Ten minutes for refreshments V 



The fact is not to be denied, that, as a general rule, the popula- 

 tion of agricultural districts throughout New England has been 

 diminishing rather than increasing for the past ten years. The 

 census returns testify to it, and w e can see it for ourselves. 



But, for one, I do honestly believe that there is something in it 

 besides cause for despondency, and that good leasons exist why 

 the popular interpretation of this phenomenon should be greatly 

 modified. 



m 



Let us pause here for a moment in order to ascertain if the 

 diminished numbers in these districts is accompanied with a cor- 

 responding diminution of yield, and by depreciation in the value 

 of farm property. If we examine and compare the figures given 

 us in the eighth and ninth census returns (for 1860 and 1870 respec- 

 tively) relative to agriculture in Maine, we shall find that the 

 number of so-called " improved " acres, (though I think many of 

 them would "improve " faster if allowed to grow up to wood aud 

 timber) has inci'eased during the past ten years about eight per 

 cent, and while I cannot deem this to be matter for so great con- 

 gratulation as it would be to learn that fewer acres were more 

 highly improved, it may yet be taken as an indication that our 

 farming lands are not being deserted. If we compare the cash 



