118 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



benefited by regular market day.-. Even the little county of Middlesex. 

 in England, of only half the size of our own county of the same name 

 with the city of London and its two million of inhabitants in her borders 

 has five regular market-, besides the great ones at Smithfield and Covent 

 Garden. So, too, notwithstanding the great manufacturing towns all over 

 England, each a large daily market of itself, yet every thirty-five thou- 

 sand square acres of agricultural property in that favored region is blessed 

 with regular market days. It is sometimes said that a man may walk 

 through England, and attend a market fair every day in the year. 



We have dwelt upon the example thus furnished to us by England 

 because of the similarity of that country to our own State, as it respects 

 the consumers of agricultural productions, both having a large manufac- 

 turing population ; both consuming in excess of production. We offer her 

 example in this respect for imitation. We are fully convinced that we 

 do not overrate the importance of the proposed measure. We believe, 

 that if adopted, it will have the effect of introducing a better and more 

 profitable system of farming ; that fanners will learn thereby what are 

 the most profitable objects of cultivation ; that they will acquire a better 

 knowledge of economy in conducting their business; that they will learn 

 to adapt their operations more intelligently with reference to those general 

 laws of trade which determine the success of every other branch of in- 

 dustry ; that they will find mutual advantage in comparing frequently the 

 results of their labors, and that they will have the constantly increasing 

 pleasure of frequent intercourse, so advantageous to men engaged in a 

 common pursuit. 



Your attention to this subject, and that of the agricultural society in 

 your neighborhood, is earnestly requested. The committee are of the 

 opinion, that by the conference of the trustees and members of our agri- 

 cultural societies, upon the expediency of these fairs, by town or district 

 meetings, and more than all, by the zealous co-operation of all individuals 

 who, after full investigation, feel the importance of the subject, much 

 may be accomplished. The undersigned would be happy to receive any 

 communications or suggestions upon this topic, and will readily engage, 

 so far as their time or other engagements will permit, to give their aid to 

 such measures as may tend to secure this great benefit to the farmers of 

 Massachusetts — the establishment of regular "Market Fairs" through- 

 out the State. 



Richard S. Fay, 

 Charles G. Davis, 

 William St xton. 



Committee of the Board. 



Boston, March 1, 1859. 



