THE EARLY DAYS. 9 



The early settlers not oiily understood the importance of 

 laying the foundation for a good government and religious 

 and educational institutions, but they also understood the 

 important fact, that, if they would obtain good returns from 

 mother earth, they must be generous with her ; and so they 

 liberally fertilized the soil with fish from the sea, even before 

 they planted the seed, thus obtaining good crops, and at the 

 same time enriched rather than impoverished the land. 



As early as 1625 the crop of Indian corn was so large, 

 that five hundred bushels at one time were sent to Kenne- 

 bec, and exchanged for beaver-skins. 



The soil and climate of this county are so well adapted to 

 the growth of this grain, that the early settlers raised large 

 quantities, and by so doing added very much to their re- 

 sources. 



For more than a hundred years the count}^ produced more 

 than sufficient grain for its home consumption. The first 

 account I have been able to find of the importation of grain 

 into the county was in 1775, when seven hundred bushels of 

 Indian corn were purchased from Virginia : the price paid 

 was seventy-five cents per bushel delivered. 



Althougli, for more than a hundred years, the people have 

 paid more attention to manufactures than to agriculture, 

 they have never lost sight of the importance of united action 

 to encourage the improvement of breeds of animals, and the 

 varieties of fruits and vegetables, and to coUect information 

 of a character to assist them in appl^dng labor and materials 

 to their farms in a manner to secure the best results. 



Early in the present century a farmers' club was formed in 

 this town, and was in active operation some years. 



The Plymouth County Agricultural Society was organized 

 in 1819. Through the influeuce of this society, great im- 

 provements have been made in breeds of cattle and the meth- 

 ods of cultivating the soil. The records of this society show 

 that more than a hundred and forty bushels of shelled corn 

 have been produced upon one acre of land in one season. 



The Hingham Agricultural and Horticultural Society was 

 organized in 1858. This society has maintained regular 

 monthly meetings from its organization to the present time : 

 it has done more than this ; during the twenty years of its 

 existence it has averaged oue meeting every seventeen days. 



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