45 



Merritt I. Wheeler talked on the use of farm machinery and said that the best 

 should be got, if any. The number of machines to be bought should be just what 

 economy demands, if the quantity of the work to be done is enough to justify it. It 

 is simply a question of economy. The labor question is prominent before the 

 people to-day. Nine-tenths of everything of value is in labor. Now-a-days it 

 is hard to find any really good man who can be hired, for he wants to work for 

 himself. In response to a question, he said that the spring tooth harrow is 

 adapted to a wider range of work than the wheel harrow. A broadcast sower 

 does its work better than it can be done by hand or by a drill sower, regardless 

 of the wind. A manure spreader that he has used, gives him perfect satisfaction 

 and he would not part with it for twice its cost. It puts twenty loads on an acre 

 and will cover twenty acres a day. When a farmer is not so situated that he 

 can afford to buy much machinery, it is well for neighbors to combine and buy 

 in partnership. Mr. Wheeler and Frank A. Palmer agreed to this. A discus- 

 sion followed on drill and broadcast sowers, manure spreaders, fertilizers and 

 grass seed sowers, in which President Kline, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Rowley, T. S. 

 Baldwin and Stephen Baldwin, both of Egremont, took part, the drift of 

 opinion being favorable to their use. 



H. E. Codding of Egremont, moved a vote of thanks to Messrs. Palmer, 

 Rowley and W 7 heeler for their interesting talk. 



Samuel Newell of Great Barrington, said he was brought up on a farm and 

 had a preference for cattle. Our soil is so varied that it is adapted to all kinds 

 of animals. He doubts whether Kentucky raises better cattle than Idaho, Kan- 

 sas and other Western plains. Thinks the beef from there is superior to that 

 from the East. Taste has much to do with farming. He farms for the ta'ste for 

 it, and came here to raise South Down sheep. He eats his lambs and sends 

 some abroad. He considers them the best for eating. After killing he leaves 

 the carcass until it is ripe. He fattens them on buckwheat. The immediate 

 result may not be profitable, but if we can raise lambs to greater perfection, it 

 may lead others to doing the same and in time elevate the taste for fine eating. 

 He raises corn because he likes to see it, and thinks for forage it will pay for 

 the raising. What is the most economical labor to hire ? Get machinery if you 

 can, if not, hire men. Thinks it is better to hire by the year if one can. Don't 

 know any preference of nationality. If a good American man, with goods habits 

 can be had, thinks it best, next best is Irish, or English, or German or Scotch. 

 Thinks sheep raising preferable on account of less labor in the house. Wool 

 and lambs take care of themselves. He makes butter that he sells for forty 

 cents a pound. He used phosphates, but don't think he shall use them again. 

 Prof. Mapes was of schoolmate of his. Thinks it is a good plan to raise a good 

 crop of boys and girls. Has hired a seed sower, ' ' The Farmer's Favorite. " 

 Don't sell grain or hay but feed it out. One may drive off stock, but not other 

 products. He also spoke of the old farm "down East," buying grain and sell- 

 ing milk, butter, cheese, calves, hogs, cattle sheep and horses ; raising healthy 

 children on the farm, New England agriculture, pride, dress, law, New Jersey 

 farming, education, going back to the old style of living, root crops, machinery, 

 paying money by the farmer to his boys, fun for boys at home, a saddle horse, 

 gunning, fishing and trapping, calves, cattle, dancing, playing on the piano, 

 cooking, matrimony, agricultural implements, borrowing, buying on shares > 



