xvi REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



fairs in the State, it should be remembered that Hampshire has not 

 a Wilder close at hand, 



" To unlock the soil for fniit to grow 

 And inspire in many their taste to know ;" 



nor perhaps a Moore, whose energies cheapen transportation, and 

 make cities feed from our own gardens. 



Dinner wss furnished in the upper hall of the society, but not at its 

 expense, nor in formal stjde. After the dining-hour the people col- 

 lected to hear an address from Prof. Stockbridge upon the subject, 

 "Does Farming Pay?" It was listened to with courteous attention, 

 and whoever looked over the audience and reflected upon the expo- 

 sition of agriculture below, and thought of the homesteads of those 

 present, comfortable always, and often luxurious, would not reject 

 the affirmative answer of the speaker. Agriculture is specially 

 profitable among some of the people, insomuch that they devote 

 their attention largely to the cultivation of a plant which the soil 

 invites, and though objected to by some, fills the whole valley with 

 good cheer, that comes of enormous dividends upon investment. The 

 average growing of this plant, within ten towns, has increased from 

 sixty-eight acres in 1855 to near one thousand at present ; from the 

 centre of the society's grounds, buildings, designed for its use, may be 

 seen on ever}' side — the earth under our feet is suited to grow it, and 

 taking the average of the State in 1870, the area occupied with the 

 plant produced a gross return above ten times the gross value of eight 

 chief crops, at a moment when we are informed officially by the 

 Chief of the Bureau of the Statistics of Labor, that " since 1850 

 there has been no remarkable increase in the quantity of agricul- 

 tural produce, except in the tobacco, orchard and market garden 

 crops." Tobacco growing receives no recognition from this or any 

 other agricultural societ}'. I feel little disposition to drag an outlaw 

 into the presence of the Board, but since tobacco must be regarded 

 as one of a very few crops which uphold the agriculture of the State, 

 save our farms from neglect and the rural population from migra- 

 lion ; since also the presence of the weed is always perceptible with 

 us, and the growing of the weed is further removed from an}- ques- 

 tion of morals than the use of it, I deem the subject not beneath, 

 but as deservina; om* thought. 



"The agricultural horse trot" has attractions at Amherst, as else- 

 where. I was pleased, however, to observe that the showing of the 

 carriage-horses and roadsters enlisted from those present nearly 

 as much interest as the professional trotters. The horse does not 

 appear to have so great or baneful an influence on character here as 

 in some other sections, nor did I observe, either on the part of 



