SECRETARY'S REPORT. 55 



ing swine, and roots for winter feeding to cattle. And for chief 

 pz'oducts sold from the farms, cattle and sheep, or horses, (or 

 beef, mutton and wool) butter, cheese and pork, the latter grown 

 on buttermilk and whey, with refuse vegetables, &c., and fattened 

 on corn ; and it is also submitted, whether in all probability such 

 practice would not result in greatly increased profits. 



Some general remarks upon this subject were made in a for- 

 mer part of this report, when speaking of tlie pursuit of agri- 

 culture as a business:, and so it is unnecessary to repeat them 

 here. While our conviction is strong, that we follow altogether 

 too mixed a method, violent or sudden changes are not recom- 

 mended, but only as fast and as far as may, upon due reflection, 

 seem both warranted and demanded by the best interests of 

 each individual farmer. In some cases no change may be ad- 

 visable. Within t]ie limits of our State, there may be those 

 now situated so similarly to what all were when this mixed 

 method began to obtain, when with poor roads, with little 

 money to buy with, with no markets to sell in, the question for 

 each to consider Avas, not — what can I and my farm produce to 

 best advantage, so much as, how can I best obtain from off my 

 farm the means of subsistence — food and raiment and taxes ; and 

 so it was expedient to pursue a method which would pro- 

 duce as many of the necessaries and comforts of life as possible, 

 and whatever there was of surplus went to pay the mechanic 

 or the professional man in kind. Flax was grown for summer 

 wear, and wool for winter, the goodwife spun and wove and 

 m>ade into garments, for she could not, as now, exchange a pound 

 of butter for a yard of cloth, which it would cost her several 

 times the time and laljor to produce at home. But time lias 

 made wonderful changes — and may it not be well to ask if our 

 policy is as well adapted to our circumstances, as theirs was to 

 theirs ? It may now be expedient to inquire, to what product are 

 my farm and my taste and ability best suited, so that I can pur- 

 sue it with both pleasure and profit ? Many farms have quite a. 

 range of capabilities, and in such, natural aptitude or local de- 

 mand for any particular products, and various other considera- 

 tions may help decide. Nature nfhy have marked the land most 

 distinctly for tillage; and if so, follow the plough, and thrive. 

 She may have as plainly marked it as grazing land, and its 



