12 



II. 



DOES MASSACHUSETTS FARMING WARRANT 



THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SYSTEM OF 



AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS? 



Does farming in Massachusetts offer sufficiently important 

 and attractive careers to warrant the establishment of a sys- 

 tem of agricultural schools in this Commonwealth, to train 

 boys and girls who have reached their fourteenth birthday for 

 farm life and work ? The present chapter briefly reviews farm- 

 ing incentives and prospects as they are found in this State 

 to-day. 



1. Incentives to Farming in Massachusetts are Many. In 

 a given farming enterprise there may be blended any two or 

 three, or there may be blended all, of the incentives which make 

 farming in this State attractive. 



(1) The stress and uncertainties of other callings lead many 

 to engage in farming. Severe competition and uncertainty as 

 to the future in business have resulted in the purchase and 

 development of Massachusetts farm land. Prospects for a 

 profitable investment, a stable occupation and a lifelong employ- 

 ment at congenial work are incentives to redirection of effort 

 in such a case. 



A section of this State was pointed out, during the investi- 

 gation leading to this report, which was said to have been bought 

 up, one small holding after another, by " broken-down me- 

 chanics." It might be fairly considered one of the least 

 promising sections for farming. The operations undertaken 

 were on a small scale; in no instance on a large one. Health 

 and vigor, and self-sustaining life for their children and them- 

 selves, free from the severe competition in the trades and 

 industries, were the primary incentives in these cases. 



Farming in Massachusetts has become increasingly attract- 

 ive to immigrants who have left the old world and come here 

 with the determination to succeed. These immigrants are not 

 so much peasants as they are pioneers. They are thrifty and 

 observant; they are quick to adopt new ideas and methods. 



