FARMS. 91 



FARMS. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the CommitLee. 



The agriculture of the county has received rather more tliau 

 usual attention during the last season ; and notwithstanding 

 the difficulty and expense of obtaining labor, the results have 

 been highly satisfactory. The season has not been entirely 

 propitious, it is true ; the early drought and the later floods 

 having interfered very much with some of the most important 

 farming processes. But, nevertheless, our crops have been, in 

 many instances, abundant, and it is seldom that the markets 

 have afforded better advantages. The fruit crop has been nearly 

 a failure. Small grains have suffered much from drought 

 and subsequent rains. Root crops, which are beginning to bo 

 extensively cultivated, are abundant. The quantity of hay cut, 

 whatever may be its quality, is not below the average. And 

 at no time have our pastures produced such a luxuriance of 

 herbage. Our farmers commence the winter with well-stored 

 barns, and their cattle in unusually good condition. It is doubt- 

 ful whether the 150,000 acres of land in the county, employed 

 for farming purposes, have ever yielded a larger return for the 

 labor bestowed upon them. 



The enterprise of our farmers and their interest in their call- 

 ing have not abated. In addition to the Agricultural Society 

 which has been so long established in the county, and has 

 enlisted the services of some of our most useful, influential and 

 public-spirited citizens, we have now two town associations, 

 both in flourishing condition, and three farmers' clubs, diligently 

 devoted to the investigation of topics belonging to practical 

 agriculture. Various sections of Massachusetts, and of other 

 New England States, have supplied themselves with many val- 

 uable cattle of pure blood, particularly Ayrshires for the dairy, 

 from the breeders of Essex. The three-year-old stallion, which 

 took the fir.st premium this season at one of the largest exhibi- 



