No. 4.] COMPETITION AND THE FARMER. 409 



petition? In 1845 Massachusetts raised of cereals, exclu- 

 sive of corn, 1,887,275 bushels, in 1885 988,952 bushels,— 

 a loss in forty years of 47 per cent. Corn in the number 

 of bushels grown has more nearly held its own ; its value has 

 shown marked decline. In 1855 we produced 2,595,09G 

 bushels, valued at $2,820,109; in 1885 2,147,390 bushels, 

 valued at $1,271,349. Most of the corn raised in our State, 

 and many thousand bushels besides, are fed by our dairy- 

 men to their milch cows. Although saving the purchase to the 

 extent of its value, it can hardly be considered as affording 

 a" direct money return, since but a very small amount is 

 exposed for sale. 



It will be observed that all of the above products — beef, 

 mutton, wool, pork, the cereals — can be transported long 

 distances without deteriorating in value. And here let me 

 say that the loss in these products accounts for most of our 

 abandoned farms, for these forsaken lands when tilled were 

 largely devoted to raising these same products. 



These farms from a sentimental stand-point cause ' ' The 

 tear of regret to intrusively swell," but from a business 

 stand-point they proclaim that more and better results can 

 be obtained elsewhere with a like amount of effort. The 

 herculean labors put forth in the early subduing of many of 

 these now forsaken homes awaken admiration for heroic 

 men and women. Alas ! that the depletion of these lands by 

 wasteful husbandry should have so soon followed. At the 

 present time, to continue the struggle along the same old 

 lines of production is effort almost wasted. Is the bare fact 

 that these lands once bore fruit sufficient reason to desire 

 their reoccupancy? If wealthy men from our cities seek 

 these naturally beautiful sites for the summer home, by all 

 means let us encourage their sale ; but for purely agricultural 

 purposes is it wise at present to advise their use ? 



In my native town one of those cast-aside stage coaches 

 before referred to was brought out from its hiding place by 

 one of these same city men. Paint, varnish, and slight 

 remodelling changed this neglected vehicle into the preten- 

 tious tally-ho ; with four-in-hand and bugle blast it gave its 

 merry passengers a sightly seat from which to view the 

 beauty and grandeur of Berkshire's hills and valleys. I 



