104 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



amount of labor. It has been their practice for many years to 

 depend upon the West for some of their supplies, especially for 

 their corn, beef, and to some extent for their pork, and this upon 

 the theory that they could not compete successfully in their pro- 

 duction. In this, labor has been made a scapegoat, and sent forth 

 with, not the sins, but the mistakes of our farming community. 



That it is the better policy for the majority to produce aU that 

 is needed for home consumption of such crops as are adapted to 

 our soil and climate, 1 am convinced, though I know there is a 

 wide difference upon this question in the opinions of intelligent 

 and practical men. Take, for instance, tobacco, as a special crop, 

 to be exchanged for such as are needful, but which, it is claimed, 

 cannot be grown at a profit. Time and material and skill have 

 been lavished upon it; but what has been the average result of all 

 this expenditure, but to impoverish both the pocket and the farm? 



Or, if it is objected to this, that tobacco is not a safe crop, and 

 therefore not a fair one to represent the theory of special farming, 

 let us take the potato, which is perhaps one of the most reliable, 

 so far as climatic influences can affect it. And what would the 

 result have been if any considerable proportion of the farmers of 

 Connecticut had for this year depended upon it for their income ? 

 At the present low prices how would they have been able to 

 exchange their surplus so as to leave a balance at the end of the 

 year on the credit side ? The fact is, no crop that can be grown 

 with fair success when the conditions are favorable, is safe as a 

 specialty, for the reason that the exceptional years are too fre- 

 quent, when from apparent or hidden causes the producer realizes 

 little or no profit. So, then, it seems to me fair to repeat the propo' 

 sition that the average farmer should practice mixed farming, and 

 by this I mean that he should produce a full supply for his own 

 necessities of such crops as are adapted to his soil, wisely select- 

 ing for the market those which in a series of years, have been 

 proven to be most reliable and profitable. I well remember a 

 remark once made by a skillful farmer with, whose practices I had 

 opportunity to become quite familiar. When expostulated with 

 for planting a small part of the field with beans instead of corn, 

 "My son, if you raise your own beans you have them," thus clos- 

 ing the argument, and stating in a nut-shell the true New England 

 policy. 



But not only with respect to these matters which I have con- 



