FARMS. 165 



the occasion, by bringing something of their own growth or 

 raising, or by detailed statements of particular crops. A great 

 amount of useful knowledge respecting the best methods of 

 conducting various processes in draining, seeding, manuring, 

 reclaiming meadows and other details, is lost to the community 

 by the backwardness or indifference of those who conduct these 

 operations. 



In several towns in this county, afi'iculture is but little 

 attended to. In these towns the people are mostly devoted to 

 mechanical pursuits. Much land that was formerly ploughed 

 is now grown over with yoiuig wood, probably the most profit- 

 able use that could be made of it. It is a common remark, 

 that there is more woodland and less wood than there was twenty 

 years ago. The railroads, manufacturing and mechanic villages 

 have rapidly increased the value of wood, which has risen from 

 three to six dollars a cord. This rise has induced some sowing 

 of wood seed and setting out of young forest trees. We would 

 refer the reader, for further information and examples, to the 

 report of the committee on forest trees, contained in this 

 volume, the author of that report being a member of the visile 

 ing committee. 



These and several other instances on a smaller scale, show 

 that the growth of wood may be made profitable on poor land- 

 No part of this county, is, exclusively, agricultural. There 

 are not more than one or two towns in which the produce of 

 agricultural labor equals in value the products of manufactures. 

 In most towns the latter exceed the former from three to ten or 

 twelve times in value ; and where the difference is greatest, the 

 progress of agriculture is slowest. We may take a single 

 article as. an illustration. In the southern and south-eastern 

 towns there is very little corn fodder raised, an article which 

 the farmers in the northern and western towns consider indis- 

 pensable to success, the introduction of which is justly con- 

 sidered among our most decided improvements. In a wet sea- 

 son, like the past, there was less necessity for corn fodder than 

 usual. But in our average summers, with their intense drought 

 and scorching heat, our old pastures, good for little at best, are 

 almost worthless. Examples are not wanting, of great success 

 in renovating old pastures. We will mention one that came to 

 our notice this season : — 



