46 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



I have spoken of the labor of the farm. There is often 

 wanting a well-directed effort or economy of labor in the 

 management of the farm. Formerly every thing was done 

 by hand-labor ; but, with the march of improvement in every 

 other branch of business, the farmer has been casting about 

 to see what could be done to lighten his burdens, and has 

 brought to his aid machinery and improvements in the tools 

 used, so as greatly to lighten his labors, and render his occu- 

 pation far more desirable. 



There is not that shrewdness on the part of farmers in the 

 management of their business that there seems to be in 

 other branches of industry: there is a lack of combined 

 effort in affecting sales of farm-products, and thereby secur- 

 ing better prices. Every farmer seems to act by himself and 

 for himself, without regard to the interests of others, thereby 

 rendering eminent success much more difficult. There is 

 need of careful thought in the production and disposition of 

 farm-crops. It is sometimes said that any one can farm, if 

 he have only the bone and muscle. The steam-engine is 

 constructed with great strength and power when properly 

 directed : it needs the same brain-power to direct the bone 

 and muscle, so that every blow will tell to the best advan- 

 tage, and so, also, that the farmer may be quick to adapt him- 

 self to circumstances as they shall arise. There is a fixed 

 rule for the production of many things, and the expense can 

 be very closely calculated. Not so in farming; there are 

 so many attending circumstances, such as heat and cold, wet 

 and dry, or insects destructive to vegetation if the battle of 

 extermination is not successfully fought against them ; there 

 is, also, a battle against weeds, which, if suffered to predomi- 

 nate instead of the intended crop, are continually drawing 

 the plant-food, which is just as destructive as to take away a 

 part of the animal food, and still have the animal thrive just 

 as well. Clean cultivation is necessary. It is comparatively 

 easy to keep down the weeds, if attended to seasonably ; but, 

 if allowed to grow, they are hard to eradicate. A heavy 

 stone just starting from the side of a steep hill may be stayed 

 by simply putting the hand upon it ; but, if under full head- 

 way, we must stand out of the way. It is so with weeds : if 

 destroyed as they start, it is easy ; but, if they are allowed to 

 grow, they become formidable. 



