NEW ENGLAND FARMING. 36 " 



thing more than the actual increase in milch cows to supply 

 the greater demand for milk by your growing city and village 

 population. Working oxeu appear to be decreasing in numbers, 

 and farm horses to be increasing. Other cattle show a con- 

 siderable increase, proving that more is done in feeding and 

 grazing than heretofore. Sheep, which had already shown a 

 great decrease in 1850 upon 1840, took another tumble during 

 the ten years previous to 18G0, decreasing one-third, and swine 

 were also somewhat reduced in numbers. But, taking the 

 aggregate of the farm stock kept, so nearly as we can set off 

 the increase in some kinds again* the decrease in others, I 

 think it safe to affirm that the farms of the State are now 

 carrying a somewhat larger burden than they did in 1850 — 

 perhaps, in general terms, equivalent to the keeping of from a 

 hundred and three to a hundred and five head of cattle on land 

 which then supported a hundred. 



And in the character of the stock kept, there has been a 

 marked improvement. The valuation aggregates thirty-two 

 per cent, more in 1860 than in 1850, and if we allow for an 

 increase of five per cent, in the total number of animals, we 

 shall still have about twenty-five per cent, for the increased 

 valuation per capita on the whole. I cannot find any data to 

 show that the markets for animal products have advanced 

 sufficiently during the ten years to account alone for this 

 increase ; and while the change in the character of her live 

 stock has not been so great in Massachusetts, during the period 

 referred to, as in New York and throughout the West, owing 

 to the fact that the general character of New England cattle 

 was superior to that of the so-called " natives " in other States, 

 and there was thus less room for improvement, — I think you 

 will agree with me that this improvement is perceptibly going 

 forward ; that a more precocious maturity and greater size for 

 the shambles are now attained, taking the, average of all the 

 New England stock that goes to market, while I know that in 

 no State does the demand for improved animals evince a more 

 healthy activity than here in Massachusetts, during the present 

 year. 



If, then, the chief end of your farming is comprised, as we 

 have stated, in the three directions of breeding, grazing and 

 feeding, dairying, we may perhaps linger profitably for a few 



