Dl]VOTED TO AGKICULTimE, HORTICUIiTUHE, AND KXNDEED AKTS, 



NEW SERIES. 



Boston, Jammrv, 1869. VOL. III.— NO. 1. 



K. P. EATOK & CO., PuBLisiiEKS, 

 Office, 34 Merchants' Kow. 



MONTHLY. 



SIMON BRO^\Tf, 

 S. FLETCIIEU, 



JANUARY 1, 1869. 



ONTii succeeds 

 month, and year 

 ' succeeds year. 

 The hand on the 

 great dial now 

 points to a new 

 and we 

 adjust our 

 accounts and 

 our correspond- 

 ence to It. The 

 } ear 18C8, with its labors 

 and cares and sorrows, 

 and its jo} s and pleasures, 

 is now numbered with the 

 years of the past, and we 

 are assuming the respon- 

 sibilities and the labors of a new 



5^ J5:i' May it be to all our readers a 



year of pleasure and successful 

 labor. That it may prove such it will be well 

 for us all to review the experience of the past 

 year, and inquire wherein we have been suc- 

 cessful, and in what we have failed ; and to 

 inquire what are the causes of success, and 

 what of failure. 



New dates are so many stations on the jour- 

 ney of life, from which we may profitably look 

 back over the space we have passed, and for- 

 ward along the vista which is opening before 

 us. 



The disappointments and failures of the past, 

 instead of discouraging us, should teach us 

 lessons of wisdom In arranging our plans for 

 the future. From our successes we should 

 derive new faith and energy. The "Gods 

 help those who help themselves," said the old 

 master of Fable; and all experience proves 

 he was right. By the very efforts we make 

 we acquire new inspiration and an Increase of 

 power. Says the poet, 



"Hope springs ever new in human hearts." 

 Then let our hopes be high, and may they in- 

 spire corresponding determination and effort, 

 and may our efforts and determination not be 

 confined to the field of agriculture, but em- 

 brace Intellectual, social and moral culture as 

 well. We will aim not only to secure good 

 crops, but an increase of knowledge, of social 

 refinement and of holy living. 



A review of the results of the season now 

 closed should call out devout thankfulness for 

 the blessings with which the labors of the hus- 

 bandman have been crowned. Local failures 

 and disappointments have of course occurred, 

 but on the whole the country has been favoi ed 

 with abounding harvests, and almost universal 

 health. The great staple crops were probably 

 never better; manufactures and commerce 

 have given good results to all wise enterprise ; 

 the laborer has been fully employed at high 

 wages, and enabled to surround himself with 

 comforts, and obtain for himself and his chil- 

 dren the means of education and social im- 



