MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



terests, it might be true. But it must be ob- 

 served that strong grass lands have generally 

 a tenacity and a retentiveness of moisture, 

 which forbid that frequent and early tillage, 

 that is essential to other growths; and upon 

 careful reckoning, I doubt very much, if it 

 would not appear that some of the very light 

 lands in the neighborhood of cities, pay a 

 larger percentage upon the agricultural capi- 

 tal invested, than any purely grazing lands in 

 the country. Again, even supposing that the 

 soil were adapted to grazing, it is quite doubt- 

 ful if the best of grazing lands will prove 

 profitable in the neighborhood of large towns ; 

 doubtful if beef and mutton cannot be made 

 cheaper in out-of-the-way districts, where by 

 reason of distance from an everyday mar- 

 ket, lands command a low price. 



For kindred reasons, no farm, so near a 

 large town of the East, invites the growth of 

 grain : on this score there can be no competi- 

 tion with the West, except in retired parts of the 

 country, where land is of little marketable value. 



What then? Grazing does not promise 

 well; nor does grain-growing. Shall I stock 

 my land with grass, and sell the hay? Unfor- 

 tunately, this experiment has been carried too 

 far already. A near market, and the small 



78 



