54 BOARD OF AGRICULTURir. 



" mixed farming to all intents and purposes. There is not a 

 stock raiser lu town, though all raise stock. There is not a 

 respectable dairy in to^yn, though all inaku butter and chocso. 

 There may be a flock of one hundred sheep, but twenty -five is 

 not far from an average flock, — a few lambs are annually sold, 

 occasionally a fine horse, (or perchance, not so fine) or a yoke 

 of oxen, or a cow or heifer for the shambles ; and for a few 

 years past, until this year, most of the calves to the butchers — 

 price of calves, at four weeks old, say four dollars. Dry seasons 

 had contributed with high prices to prompt the sale of calves, 

 until it was found that all kinds of stock luid become scarce and 

 high, and our farmers not being able to purchase of one another,, 

 have, this year, raised every thing, big and little." From this 

 same town, we learn that its soil is best adapted to " mowing,, 

 crazimr, forest, tillage and orchardino- and in quantitv in the 

 order as above;" so that it may be fairly presumed, that stock- 

 growing, dairy-husbandry, or the Wkc, might profitably be made 

 a prominent pursuit. We farther learn, that the principal 

 crops grown, are '•' corn, wheat, potatoes, oats, barley, beans, 

 peas, buckwheat, c^v., in value in the order named as above ; " 

 and that " there is ?io one prominent product sold from the farms 

 of this town, but a little from all of these ; also, fruit, eggs, wood^ 

 Lay and stock, but most of these in limited quantities." 



It is no part of our task to find fault with any, for pursuing 

 such method as they see fit to do. Every one is at perfect lib- 

 erty to follow any occupation or profession which he pleases; 

 and also, to follow it in any M'ay he pleases, or he may combine 

 as many as he pleases. Suppose one to pra<;tice law, physic 

 and divinity, and when leisure serves, attempt to model ships 

 and machinery, and' to manufacture cloth and paper, no one could 

 object, yet it may be fairly questioned, whether by such policy,. 

 he would be so likely to attain eminence or wealth, as by select- 

 ing one, and devoting himself to it ; and it is respectfully submit- 

 ted, whether, with adaptation of soil as above gwen, (and this 

 reply is selected for no other rea.son, than because it is more- 

 distinct and definite than some others, and not because it is 

 different in kind from most,) whether a better return might not 

 be something in the following style : For principal crops grown — 

 hay, wheat enough for bread, corn, ditto, and some for fatten- 



