THE FIFTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



SECEETAEY 



OF THE 



State Board of Agriculture 



To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of 

 Massach usetts. 



The year 1007 has been an unusual one in the way of agri- 

 cultural development. Not for years has there been so much 

 of agitation and stirring of thought and spirit among our 

 farming population as during the past twelve months. With 

 this agitation, and perhaps spirit of unrest, there has been 

 naturally a diversity of opinion as to the future of agriculture 

 in New England, ranging from the deeply pessimistic to the 

 hopeful outlook of the born optimist, in accordance with the 

 nature and circumstances of the individual. There has also 

 been considerable of accusation and denial, the clashing of par- 

 tisans of different view points, into which a certain amount 

 of apparent personal feeling has entered from time to time. 



Agitation and unrest are healthy symptoms in themselves of 

 the condition of the farmers of the State. Contentment is a 

 dangerous state of mind, if we are to hope for progress; more 

 is accomplished by a healthy and well-regulated discontent with 

 conditions than by any other force in the working out of human 

 affairs. When the day comes that our farmers are contented 

 and satisfied with their lot and condition in life, we may look 

 to see a decadence of the old New England spirit, and the de- 

 velopment of a peasant class to take the place of our progressive 

 and independent farmers. 



