120 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



advertised for the first Tuesday of December, which was entirely 

 prevented by a violent storm. A market was also held on the 

 second Tuesday of November, at North Bridgewater, and the 

 committee are informed that it is the intention to continue 

 these markets in the spring, at South Abington, on the first, and 

 at North Bridgewater on the second Tuesday of every month. 



Markets have also been held at Springfield, some time in the 

 first week of May, at Concord, September 28, — the day of the 

 annual exhibition of the Middlesex Society, — at Framingham, 

 on the 11th of October, and at Sturbridge, in Worcester County, 

 November 16. 



And now the inquiry will be renewed, what, with the addi- 

 tional experience and observation of the committee, do they still 

 deem the great advantages of these markets ? Can they be 

 inaugurated, and how and where may they best be instituted ? 

 Our reply to these inquiries will be brief. 



And, in the first place, the committee have the pleasure of 

 stating that their confidence in the vast benefit of these markets 

 to the consumer, as well as to the producer, has not diminished, 

 but has been strengthened by what they have seen and heard 

 during the year. In England there are about eleven hundred 

 and forty markets in a year, and more than one thousand 

 markets, at as many different points, are established by law, as 

 stated in the circular. Some of these statute fairs, or markets, 

 date back to the time of King Alfred, — more than ten centuries 

 ago, — and they have ever since been increased both by statute 

 and by the voluntary efforts of the various sections. To those 

 who doubt the benefit on property of establishing these markets 

 in this country, we put this simple question. How happens it 

 that these markets have so increased by voluntary action and 

 by act of Parliament, if they are not of great advantage to the 

 vast producing and landed interest of England ? If advan- 

 tageous there, is there any thing in our condition which would 

 render them useless or less beneficial as we are situated in 

 Massachusetts ? Great Britain stands at the head of all the 

 nations in the art and the profit of agriculture. In many 

 respects Massachusetts is admirably situated for the profitable 

 pursuit of agriculture. We have, as in England, a large popu- 

 lation of consumers, who are not producers. 



