22 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



tlie agricultural department in the State is still far from that 

 degree which will satisfy either our policy or our necessity, and 

 though these figures do not place us by the side of the large 

 grain and stock growing States whose almost entire population 

 are employed in the cultivation of their rich virgin soil; yet, 

 when we consider our limited area, our soil not the most per- 

 missive of culture, and the small proportion of our farming 

 people, and especially when we consider the great expansion of 

 the other departments of our production, we have abundant 

 cause for gratitude to a beneficent Providence which from the 

 chill-smitten clods of this little patch on the map of the Union 

 has enabled us to extract so large and so rich rewards. 



Nor do I forget that in this array of the products of agricul- 

 ture the county of Worcester contributes a large and honorable 

 share. Her exhibitions of stock have usually been regarded 

 as foremost among her sister societies. I find by analyzing 

 the returns, that in the value of horned cattle this county is 

 in advance of all othei's, being equal to Essex and Middlesex 

 combined ; that in the product of the dairy she exceeds the 

 same two great counties united, and has only Berkshire for a 

 competitor ; that in corn she stands before all, though alluvial 

 Hampshire follows closely in her march ; that in oats, Berkshire 

 alone comes within hailing distance ; that in potatoes no other 

 county ranks her, though Middlesex is not far behind ; that in 

 the root crop she yields largely to Middlesex and somewhat to 

 Essex, but to none other beside ; that in hay she is vastly in 

 the ascendant over all ; wiiile in the various fruits she has but 

 one equal, Worcester as an agricultural district is peerless in 

 the State. And I do not overlook another fact, comprehensive 

 of all the others, crowning the qualities of an agricultural 

 people, that the farmers of Worcester, have a reputation well- 

 earned and widely known for their liberality and freedom from 

 prejudice in the introduction of trials, experiments, and modes 

 of culture, and for their readiness to co-operate in whatever is 

 designed to advance the general welfare. 



And yet I must remind you that largely as the county is 

 agricultural, furnishing one-quarter of the products of the land 

 of the State, even her industry is but partially in the cultivation 

 of the earth. This county made returns eight years ago of an 

 annual product of her labor of $41,000,000. But of this flatter- 



