1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 353 



most wonderful development in art and science. The laws 

 of trade have been almost revolutionized. Within our mem- 

 ories some of the States of this Union were practically more 

 distant from us than are to-day the most remote countries of 

 the earth. Our tables are supplied with the luxuries pro- 

 duced in distant lands, and they are cheap in comparison 

 with the fruits of our own State and neighborhood. The 

 small producer finds his products forestalled in his own 

 home market by those from warmer climes, cheaper lands 

 and perhaps cheaper labor. Large profits are no longer 

 possible, and his little business, once so pleasant and profita- 

 ble, will hardly meet the expenses of his family. The in- 

 terest and taxes on his high-priced land are serious burdens. 

 It has been said that land valued at over one thousand dol- 

 lars per acre cannot be profitably farmed in Massachusetts. 

 The same would be only too true of land of much less value 

 if it were used for farm crops and common market gardening. 

 There is abundant evidence that the profit on the special 

 crops of our market gardeners has been crowded down to a 

 minimum by sharp competition, while in the purely farming 

 districts there is a handwriting upon the wall that requires 

 the help of no prophet to interpret, " Farming don't pay." 



We learn with sadness from statistics that the value of our 

 farms is depreciating at the rate of over half a million dollars 

 per year, while in some towns almost whole neighborhoods 

 are for sale, and miles square can be bought for less than 

 the cost of improvements. No farmer can contemplate this 

 state of affairs without extreme solicitude. We do not men- 

 tion these facts to excite alarm or to discuss causes, but 

 rather for the purpose of suggesting remedies. We do not 

 belong to the desponding class. We have great faith in, and 

 high hopes foi;, the future of New England agriculture. Our 

 only fear is that the farmers will fail to grasp their oppor- 

 tunities in time. Men of small mold and contracted mind 

 have had their day in all vocations. They are being crowded 

 off* the stage. The present condition demands men of broad 

 views and energetic habits. The successful farmer of the 

 future will be a man of such a stamp, — a thinking man, a 

 man of broad and comprehensive ideas. He will be compelled 

 to compete with the world, so he will draw information from 



