AGRICULTURE OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The aggregate amount awarded for farm management 

 tliroughont the State during the past year, was but thirty- 

 seven dollars ! This does not, of course, include the amount 

 offered for specific objects, like the reclaiming of swamps, pas- 

 tures, &c. ; but it shows how reluctant the farmer is to subject 

 his entire management to the judgment of a' committee. 



This is owing in part, probably, to causes quite sufficient in 

 themselves to account for it, however much their existence may 

 be regretted. This subject has already attracted notice, and it 

 is thus alluded to in the report of the chairman of the com- 

 mittee of the Essex Society, on 



FARM S. 



The fact seems at length to be established, that the long- 

 tried system of offering premiums for farm management, is, 

 unfortunately, a bad one. That mistakes have sometimes been 

 made in awarding premiums, is not improbable ; but this will 

 by no means account for the singular fact, that, notwithstand- 

 ing the offer of premiums really worth any man's having, not 

 a farmer in the county now cares enough about them to apply 

 for them. The Committee on Farms for 1852, in their report 

 drawn up by our indefatigable Secretary, speak of " reiterating 

 the old complaint that so few of our farmers have been willing 

 to come forward as competitors for the liberal premiums offered 

 for farm management." In that year there was one claimant, 

 but it was the last one. The same premiums have continually 



been offered, but no claimant appears. If this state of things 

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