4 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



practical use. It was patented by Joseph Jenkes, Sen., a scythe 

 mannfaeturer of inventive genius. 



But it is not my intention, for I have not the time, to detail 

 the gradual advancement made in agriculture by the Puritans, 

 whose success was the " admiration of tlicir times, the wonder 

 of the world." As was the case in ancient Rome, the free 

 cultivators not only increased tlic resources of the state at 

 home, but defended her front against the assaults of her 

 enemies. In 1650, the yeomen of Massachusetts Bay had one 

 thousand acres in gardens and orchards, and fifteen thousand 

 acres in tillage, twelve thousand cattle and three thousand 

 sheep. Yet they had not only subdued the soil, but conquei-ed 

 its savage occupants, and at a heavy expense of time, blood and 

 treasure. Let us never forget " the Flower of Essex," who so 

 bravely fought and fell under that brave Beverly farmer, Capt. 

 Lot Cross. He had brought back from Port Royal, in 1654, — 

 as his share of the spoil, — the bell of the " New Friary," which 

 he gave to the meeting-house of his parish, little dreaming 

 probably, that it would toll for his defeat in 1675. Yet such 

 is the fortune of war. 



" And that s%yect nameless stream, whose flood 



Grew dark with battle's ruddy stain, 

 Threw off the tinge of murder's blood, 



And flowed as bright and pure again. 

 Eut that wild day, — its hour of fame, — • 



Stamped deep its history's crimson tears, 

 Till Bloody Bkook became a name 



To stir the hearts of after years." 



The secret of the success of the Puritans, may be found in 

 the grants which were given to the colonies, which, at that 

 early day, swarmed forth from the parent hives, to colonize 

 New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. The church and the 

 school-house were regarded as the inseparable foundations of 

 society, and it was wisely argued that useless were the benefits 

 of the one without the influence of the other — religion without 

 knowledge producuig bigotry, and knowledge destitute of 

 religion, leading to infidelity. One hundred and twelve years 

 after this great principle had been established at Plymouth, the 

 council confirmed it by the following conditions, on which the 



