PRODUCTION OF VEGETABLES. 13 



According to the recent census, Middlesex County pro- 

 duces 7,755,151 gallons of milk, being more than one-fifth 

 of the entire product of the State ; and the adjoining town 

 of Lexington, 510,551 gallons of milk, worth $99,907, being 

 more than any city or town in the State, except the city of 

 Worcester. Of the 3,252,957 bushels of apples, Middlesex 

 County produces about one-fourth part. As I have said 

 before, the southern and central parts of this county are very 

 largely engaged in the production of all kinds of vegetables 

 for market; and, as an illustration, we find by the census 

 report that the neighboring town of Arlington is credited 

 with 40,457 bushels of tomatoes, being about one-fifth of the 

 product of the State. Also the same town returns 12,683 

 bushels of table beets, and 5,184 bushels of table parsnips, 

 in both instances being a greater product than any other 

 town in Massachusetts. We also find Concord credited with 

 73,877 bunches of asparagus, being one-fifth of the product 

 of the State, and more than any other town. The same town 

 also returns 79,890 quarts of strawberries, being more than 

 any other town in the State, except the town of Dighton. 

 These are only a few examples. Many of the towns in the 

 southern and eastern parts of the county would show sub- 

 stantially the same results. And the fact that within this 

 county there are very extensive manufacturing establish- 

 ments of cotton, woollen, leather, iron, wood, and other 

 articles, which have created cities and towns, woidd account 

 for this interest in this branch of farming. 



And here, in this town of Waltham, there is not only the 

 first cotton-mill established in the State, but what is claimed 

 to be the largest and most perfect watch-factory in the world, 

 a village in itself. 



All these various industries create a market near to the 

 farms, for the products of the garden, orchard, and field. 

 Tliis county has three agricultural societies. The Middle- 

 sex has held its eighty-fourth exhibition, and is the oldest 

 county society in Massachusetts, and holds its exhibitions 

 at Concord ; the Middlesex North, at Lowell ; and the Mid- 

 dlesex South, at Framingham. Both of them have been 

 formed from portions of the old society. 



And in addition to these there are a number of town soci- 

 eties and farmers' clubs. These societies hold annual exhibi- 



