BUBAL DEPOPULATION. 291 



irregular when brought into contrast with the prairie 

 cultivation of the West. Grain can never be grown 

 here so cheaply nor so abundantly as there ; while 

 the tendency of our pastures to cover themselves over 

 with moss and worthless shrubs, unless frequently 

 broken up and reseeded, makes even dairying more 

 difficult and costly in New England and along its 

 western border than in almost any other part of our 

 country. 



Yet, these discouragements are balanced by com- 

 pensations. Timber springs luxuriantly and grows 

 rapidly throughout this region ; while our harsh, ca- 

 pricious climate gives to our Hickory, White Oak, 

 "White Ash, and other varieties, qualities unknown 

 to such grown elsewhere, while prized everywhere. 

 Apples, and most fruits of the Temperate Zone, do 

 well with us ; while our cities and manufacturing 

 villages proffer most capacious markets. Potatoes 

 and other edible roots produce liberally, and gener- 

 ally command good prices. Hay sells for $12 to $30 

 per ton, is easily grown, and is in eager and increasing 

 demand. We ought to produce twice our present 

 crop from the same area, and have need of every 

 pound of it ; for neither our cattle nor our sheep are 

 nearly so numerous nor so well fed as they should be. 

 In short, there is money to be made, by those who 

 have means and know how, by buying New England 

 farms, tilling them better, and growing much larger 

 crops than their present occupants have done. There 

 are many who can do better in the West ; but the 



