THE HAEDHACK QUESTION. 221 



fore, that the raising of tobacco has been a blessing to that 

 community in that re pect, if in no other way. 



Mr. Root. In the most excellent address to which we have 

 listened from Professor Stockb ridge, we have been told how 

 the production of hay has fallen off. If you knew how we in 

 this section have sufiered in the loss of our grass in conse- 

 quence of the droughts of summer and the severity of winter, 

 you would readil r' app:e'i( nd how the figures have fallen off 

 iuth3 statistics of the several States. I wish very much to 

 hear some statements from gentlemen who have re-seeded 

 their land, as to the course they have pursued. What is the 

 most successful way of bringing into luxurious gro^i;h our 

 grass-lands ? We of Worcester West are intensely interested 

 in this question, because it affects our pockets. We cannot 

 live without our grass. I only rise to say that I hope this 

 subject will be properly considered. 



Mr. Goodman, of Lenox. I want to say one word, for two 

 reasons, which will appear before I get through. I am very 

 glad that our friend Stockbridge has had the boldness to 

 " beard the lion in his den," and he laid down some doctrines 

 of which I highly approve. Nothing interests me more than 

 the improvement of our pastures, and I know that is a sub- 

 ject the importance of which will be felt in this district, 

 because it is upon the hay-crop that the value of much of the 

 land in this vicinity depends. 



The farm I occupy is situated, as very many of the farms in 

 this section are, on high land, and our farms are infested by 

 a weed, or bush, which probably is not known here, — the 

 hardback. It takes possession of our best pastures ; it runs 

 over them rapidly, and is the great curse of the country. 

 How to get rid of it is one of the most perplexing problems 

 with which the farmer has to deal, and very few men have the 

 courage to undertake it. I wish to mention one incident, 

 merely to illustrate the character of a man who has just 

 departed, and the great interest he took in everything apper- 

 taining to agriculture. I knew Mr. Greeley for many years ; 

 I have the highest respect for him as a man, and believe he 

 has done much for the promotion of agriculture in this country. 

 Some years ago, I prevailed on him to come to Lenox, for the 

 purpose of delivering an agricultural address. After the 



