26 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



to advance by tlie slow but sure process of digging their 

 treasures from the earth. Their anxiety to become affluent at 

 once, and consequently above the toil and drudgery of tilling 

 the ground; leads them away from home to seek other more 

 popular and lucrative employments^ at the peril of health, and 

 morals, and even life. Many who are engaged in this most 

 necessary, healthful and interesting occupation, feel very little 

 interest in their employment. They pursue it, not from choice, 

 but from force of circumstances. Having failed to obtain other 

 business, or having been unfortunate in their chosen vocation, 

 they fall back to tilling the ground. Many cultivate their lands 

 for immediate profit, rather than ultimate improvement. These 

 make as little outlay as possible in the management of their 

 farms ; and, instead of investing their increase of capital, from 

 time to time, in their legitimate business, as do those who are 

 engaged in commerce and navigation, merchandise and manufac- 

 tures, they invest in railroad or other stocks. Some give 

 almost exclusive attention to one field or one particular crop, 

 instead of studying to improve their whole farm, by adapting 

 the crop to its peculiar soil. How easy to enrich one field and 

 produce one large crop, by making every other part of the farm 

 pay tribute to this one. These errors we hope to see correct- 

 ed — at least not to see them so common. We hope this im- 

 portant branch of business will hereafter receive more and 

 more encouragement from government, from agricultural socie- 

 ties, and from men of science. 



The good influence of associations, annual exhibitions, ad- 

 dresses, reports and statements, is perceptible in the improve- 

 ment of buildings and fences, in the clearing of unseemly hedges, 

 iu the removal of stumps and bogs, and in the general appear- 

 ance of comfort and thrift. One neighbor stimulates another ; 

 one learns from the example and practice of another ; and each 

 becomes more interested in his work by seeing and hearing of 

 the successful or unsuccessful experiments of others. 



For a description of the farms which received premiums, and 

 the manner in wliich they have been managed, we refer to the 

 statements below. 



M. B. Gbeen, Chairman. 



