TRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 63 



1. In the matter of introducing improved machinery. It 

 is not too much to hope that steam-ploughs may yet become 

 of service to us in the West, and in parts of New Enghind. 

 These and other expensive machines might well be owned in 

 common by a community of farmers. 



2. Farmers and mechanics might combine to aid each other 

 more efficiently than they now do. "VVe want to see our 

 manufacturing industries distributed as rapidly as possible, to 

 prevent great accumulation of people at single points, and to 

 save transportation of food and stock for manufacturers and 

 manufactured materials to consumers. 



3. Cooperation might develop new kinds of industry. I 

 see no reason why the problem of beet-sugar might not be 

 worked out successfully, if twenty good farmers would com- 

 bine for this purpose. Cheese-factories are a successful illus- 

 tration of what cooperation can accomplish for profit, and the 

 comfort of the household which is now freed from the labor 

 of cheese-making. 



4. Fences. Money enough might be saved among the 

 farmers of New England to nearly pay the farm-taxes of New 

 England, if they would wisely cooperate in this matter of 

 fences. As it is now, every man has to fence around every- 

 thing he has, to keep cattle out, whereas fences should be 

 built only to keep cattle in. 



These are mere hints as to the lines of cooperation that 

 might be extended to the profit of every community. 



In one other respect, there is the greatest improvement to 

 be gained, and that is, in beautifying grounds. If all the 

 farmers in every neighborhood would join in road-making; 

 seeing that all their roadways and roadsides were made 

 pleasant to the eye ; that every tree cut, and every one 

 planted, should have reference to the beauty of the place, — 

 the homes in such a neighborhood would soon become beauti- 

 ful, and if thrown into the market, would bring fifty per cent, 

 more than the same property surrounded by the tokens of 

 neglect. The improvement on every farm helps the neighbor. 

 In some villages this cooperation has wrought wonders. The 

 efi*ects of the Laurel Hill Association, of Stockbridge, and 

 the Fern Cliff, of Lee, are examples of the pleasure and profit 

 drawn from such cooperation. We in Williamstown have 



