100 



our farms more productive. If we have not the capital to make 

 extensive and thorough work with tiles, most of us can make a 

 beginning with the small stones that have accumulated during 

 past years ; for these will make a good drain if la'id with care. 



There are those who say that on springy land it will pay to 

 drain the whole farm. 1 think, however, it is not proved as 

 yet, that for common farming the return would exceed the 

 outlay. We are, however, likely to learn from the experiments 

 of the gentlemen who, with ample resources, combined with a 

 love for farming, are working out for us in Ipswich, Hamilton 

 and West Peabody, not to mention other places in the county, 

 so many valuable results in this matter of draining, and also 

 in the application of commercial fertilizers and home-made 

 composts, giving us from year to year the conclusions and the 

 data from which they are drawn, thus aiding us, who are unabh 

 to enter the field of costly expenditure, to determine what will 

 pay. It is a common custom to sneer at the fancy farming of 

 such men. I think we are under obligation to them for the 

 introduction of fine stock, new crops and the experiments to 

 which I have referred. 



How much of interest is added to our annual shows by the 

 choice animals of these wealthy farmers. Even if we do not 

 care or can not afford to own such ourselves, yet we enjoy 

 looking at them and judging of their adaptability to our use by 

 the record they make. 



As an illustration of the benefit conferred by this class of 

 farmers in past years upon their neiglibors of more limited 

 means, I would cite the introduction of Jersey stock. Nearly 

 every one admits that for dairy purposes they are unequalled, 

 and 1 find that a grade Jersey will sell for more money than a 

 common cow. It is also much in their favor that for common 

 use, with ordinary care and keeping, the grades are better than 

 the thorough-breds. 



For this improvement in our stock we are indebted to fancy 

 farmers. Who else would have incurred the expense of im- 

 porting cattle, and on their arrival oflered such facilities for 

 the diffusion of the blood among the herds of their vicinity ? 



