418 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



farming for what they esteem easier and more profitable call- 

 ings ? Certainly. The more reason for doing something to 

 detain them, something to rescue farming from its ill name, 

 and to place it on a level with the most favored pursuits ? The 

 soil of Norfolk county presents a great variety of character, but 

 much of it is excellent. Under good management it is abun- 

 dantly productive. Its average crops are larger than those of 

 Ohio. Sufficient and well-directed tillage will bring remuner- 

 ating returns. Perhaps there never was a more favorable time 

 to invest money and labor in farming. I am persuaded that 

 for some years to come agriculture will be the leading interest 

 of the country — not only in its extent and the amount of its 

 productions, for that is always the case, but in regard to 

 profit. There is no probability that the prices of produce will 

 ever rule as low as they did years ago. Money being more 

 abundant will be worth less, and all that money buys worth 

 more. He who takes the flood tide* in the present state of 

 affairs and guides his bark by knowledge, will be carrietl on to 



fortune. 



In considering the profitableness of farming in this vicinity, 

 we should remember these things ; first, that no farmers live 

 so well and spend so much on themselves and families as New 

 England farmers, — none that make the soil contribute so much 

 to the soul and character, — none who use such excellent imple- 

 ments, — none who have more convenient buildings, better fur- 

 niture and houses, — none who educate their children better and 

 contribute more to those religious and moral institutions that 

 perpetuate their blessings, — none that identify themselves more 

 intelligently with the government and laws of their country, — 

 none whose real manhood is more purely developed in all the 

 important relations of life, — none whose cliaracter inspires more 

 confidence and respect. Even the common laborers earn three 

 times as much as in the most prosperous countries of Europe, 

 and have every facility which such men can have of rising into 

 the class of landholders and employers. We would not have 

 it otherwise. No money is better spent than that which multi- 

 plies the comforts and conveniences of home and secures the 

 maintenance of institutions, which so largely promote the virtue 

 and happiness of the people. Out of the farmers' homes come 



