SECRETARY'S REPORT. 97 



agement. It is true that labor is liigli, but it is no higher iu 

 proportion, than nearly every product of the farm. 



The true view seems to be, that in this occupation, as iu 

 every other, the proiit varies with the industry and judgment 

 of the individual engaged in it. Accordingly, we find that 

 well-managed farms pay much more than the average given 

 above. As good management becomes more common, this 

 average will rise. But so long as the exhausting system is 

 pursued, so long will our farm lands continue to diminish in 

 value, till at last they will not pay even the labor devoted to 

 their culture. This is the point to which attention should 

 especially be directed, for though labor may be high, and the 

 farmer may thus be exposed to some disadvantages, a course 

 of proper cultivation would increase the present yield of his 

 land, while it would efl'ect a permanent improvement in its 

 character, and he would thus make a double gain. Our best 

 policy is to manage our land so as to obtain a good crop from 

 it each year, and at the same time to leave' it in better condi- 

 tion at the end of the year, than it was at the beginning. 

 The possibility of doing this by liberal treatment, and a 

 judicious rotation of crops, has been so often proved by experi- 

 ment, that it cannot now be doubted. That it is not now 

 generally done, is every where admitted. If, therefore, the 

 farmer would increase his profits, let him see to it that he is 

 constantly increasing the intrinsic value of his land for farm- 

 ing purposes. 



The opinion I have expressed as to the good eff'ects of proper 

 management, is well supported by the judgment of a practical 

 farmer of Worcester County, whose long experience and exten- 

 sive observation entitle his opinion to great weight. In answer 

 to the eleventh question of the circular as given above, he says: 



" Ten per cent, after paying all expenses and labor. My 

 opinion of the profits of farming is based upon my own expe- 

 rience, which I exemplify by the following statement : A farm 

 in my vicinity, of one hundred acres, will cost three thousand five 

 hundred dollars, including buildings ; stock and tools, five hun- 

 dred dollars ; in all, four thousand dollars. Such a farm should 

 be divided into sixty acres pasture, twenty mowing, ten tillage, 

 and ten woodland. The woodland, by its growth, will supply 

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