226 Review of First Report on Agricul. of Massachusetts. 



portations of wood from Maine, or coal from Pennsylvania. The in- 

 terior have a supply from their own wood lots, or their peat bogs, the 

 value of which is becoming more highly appreciated. 



"The soil has in parts of the county become exhausted; and in no 

 part of it can it be advantageously cultivated without manure. The 

 stony and rocky character of the soil is in some places an impediment 

 to cultivation; but a large proportion of the land in the county is already 

 under partial improvement, or susceptible, at present prices of labor, 

 while present prices of produce remain, of profitable culture. 



"The county is well watered, and contains several ponds of some 

 extent, the scenery in the neighborhood of which is picturesque and 

 beautiful. Some of the situations on the Merrimack, and many on the 

 sea-shore, are commanding in their position, and present views of large 

 extent and great variety and beauty. 



"The farmers in Essex are particularly favored in respect to markets. 

 Boston is easily accessible to most parts of this county, being from its 

 farthest point not more than forty miles distant; and the large conmier- 

 cial and manufacturing towns of Salem, Lynn, Newburyport, Marble- 

 head, Danvers, and Lowell, furnish a ready demand for whatever the 

 farmer will produce. Of the whole population in Essex, there is rea- 

 son to believe that not one-fifth part are engaged, properly speaking, in 

 agriculture. The remaining four parts are consumers not producers. 

 The county of Essex is essentially a commercial and manufacturing 

 district. Besides w'hat may be called marketing, including the selling 

 of hay, she sends no agricultural produce away; and she imports lar<re- 

 ly of bread-stuffs, vegetables, dairy-produce, mutton, beef, and pork, 

 together with a great amount of oats and corn for horse-feed. Rye is 

 cultivated to a small extent, and the bread of the population is almost 

 entirely composed of the superfine flour of western New York and 

 the middle States." 



The report of the survey of Berkshire county will be next 

 submitted, and probably after this, that of Middlesex county. 

 We shall notice each as they appear. 



We should not conclude this review without speaking in terms 

 of commendation of the commissioner. Mr. Colman set about 

 his operations with spirit, and we hope they will be continued 

 with the same vigor. No person could have been selected bet- 

 ter competent, both from practical and theoretical knowledge, to 

 perform this task. He has already delivered several addresses 

 upon the subject of the survey, before the members of the Leg 

 islature, and in some of the principal towns which he has visited, 

 has invited many farmers to meet him, in order to obtain all the 

 information which has been sought. 



The survey, it was supposed by the committee who reported 

 the resolve for the same, would occupy about three years, but 

 the Governor, in his letter of instructions to the commissioner, 

 expressed his opinion that two years would be sufficient for the 

 purpose. We hope it will be fully and thoroughly accomplished, 

 even if it should take the longest period. 



