180 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



COST OF CROP. 



Ploughing, 



2 bushels of seed, 



Sowing and harrowing, 



Harvesting, 



Threshing and cleaning, 



Rent of land. 



120 50 



Net profit. 

 Land surveyed by Thomas Cotton. 

 Salem, November 6, 1862. 



154 87 



MIDDLESEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



The committee on grain crops have attended to the duties 

 assigned them with alacrity and interest, believing, as they do, 

 that every department of the exhibition is entitled to the most 

 careful attention of those who are selected to examine and report 

 upon its merits. 



Although our county is distinguished for its mechanical and 

 manufacturing skill, industry and wealth, it is no less so, we 

 believe, for the intelligent management of the soil by our people, 

 and for the valuable products which they draw from it. The 

 farmer and gardener excels in some departments of the fine 

 arts, as well as their fellow laborers at the bench, in the loom, 

 or in the print shop — for the production of the splendid fruits 

 which have crowded your tables in the fruit and floral hall 

 to-day, arc not the reward of chance or of w/iintclligent labor. 



It is said that " bread is the stafi' of life." We suppose it 

 means meat and fruit as well. Where these can be i)roduced 

 profitably and in abundance, there ought to be general prosper- 



