486 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Proof has been repeatedly given that the light soils of the 

 Old Colony are capable of producing large crops of Indian 

 corn — such as are seldom equalled in other sections ; and 

 although the nature of your soil in general will not admit of its 

 cultivation to so great an extent, it is probable that your best 

 crops pay as large a profit by the acre, as any that are produced 

 in the country. 



Vegetables and fruits will generally afford you a remunerative 

 profit. They are perishable articles, rather bulky and weighty, 

 and with the exception of such as possess the property of keep- 

 ing a considerable time, will not bear lengthened transporta- 

 tion ; and even in these, there is not yet so large an amount 

 produced in the interior as to seriously affect the market. The 

 apple is used in immense quantities, and may be considered an 

 essential article of food. The pear, though regarded as a lux- 

 ury, is easily produced, and is readly sold in our markets at 

 high prices. By the modern modes of culture, the tree can be 

 made to bear in a short time from planting, and every person 

 who has a few rods of ground, may enjoy the gratification of 

 eating the choicest kinds. 



You have an indigenous fruit which deserves attention. I 

 mean the cranberry. It has latterly been sought after to con- 

 siderable extent, and actually forms quite an export trade, 

 which will probably increase. In this article you need not 

 fear competition — it cannot be produced elsewhere cheaper 

 than here. There is not a great extent of territory adapted 

 to it. Various experiments have been made to cultivate it on 

 upland, but it seems pretty well proved that it must have an 

 abundant supply of moisture, and that it is not adapted to dry 

 soils. It has succeeded on moist, sandy soils, manured with 

 muck. 



Great quantities of vegetables are consumed in an immature 

 state, or are wanted at that time of the year when they cannot 

 be carried far, or kept long on hand. The supply of these is 

 of course within your control. 



We have heretofore spoken of the keeping of domestic ani- 

 mals as a matter of necessity ; the horse, the ox, and the cow, 

 are to you, incidental requisites. It is worthy of consideration 

 whether the keeping of live stock may not be advantageously 



