MOST PROFITABLE FARM STOCK. 57 



MOST PROFITABLE FARM STOCK. 



From an Address before the Housatonic Agricultural Society. 



BY SANFORD HOWARD. 



It is obvious that the agriculture of every section must be 

 modified by circumstances; as climate, topography, geology, 

 (as connected with the nature of the soil,) geographical 

 position, and the situation relatively to other sections, especially 

 to markets and depots of trade and commerce. Some of these 

 circumstances may be said to be permanent, while others are 

 more or less subject to change. The physical features of a 

 country must always exercise a controlling influence on its 

 productions and the general character of its agriculture. 

 Mountainous and hilly districts are less adapted to tillage or 

 arable husbandry than plains and valleys. On the other hand, 

 trees of various kinds, and grasses of different species, fre- 

 quently flourish well on somewhat rough, elevated tracts, even 

 where the surface of the earth and the nature of the soil would 

 not admit of cultivation. 



I venture to assume that the circumstances which chiefly 

 influence the agriculture of this section, mark it as mainly 

 adapted to the growth of trees and grass. Probably a large 

 proportion of the land must always be kept to wood, so far as 

 it is capable of any vegetable production. Grass can undoubt- 

 edly be produced to a great extent, both for pasturage and hay. 

 In former times, when sections of greater fertility were not 

 settled, or when they had not ready access to our principal 

 markets, the growing of wheat may have been profitable here ; 

 but with the present facilities for transportation from the great 

 West, it is doubtful whether grain crops, except Indian corn 

 in favorable localities, can be extensively cultivated here with 

 advantage. Hence it appears to me that the leading interest 

 of the district must be scrazina;. 



