504 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Nov. 



then introduced, who spoke briefly, expressing his 

 gratification of what he had witnessed of the suc- 

 cess of the farmers of Worcester county. 



Mr. Flint, Secretary of ihe Board of Agriculture, 

 then spoke at considerable length, expressing his 

 gratification at the prospects of the Worcester Ag- 

 ricultural Society and the exhibition which he had 

 witnessed, and closed by giving the following sen- 

 timent : 



The Progress of Agriculture — May the enthusi- 

 asm of our farmers never be less than it is to-day. 



The Committee then made their report|^ and 

 announced the premiums awarded. — Traveller. 



AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT. 



Agriculture can never take its true position 

 among the arts until its condition is better under- 

 stood. We will say nothing of it at present on its 

 scientific relations, but call the attention of the 

 reader for a moment to the deplorable darkness 

 which enshrouds its statistics, and involves what 

 all ought to know in doubt and uncertainty. It is 

 believed that the cotton and woollen manufactui-- 

 ers of the commonwealth would be able to state 

 with accuracy within a week, the whole number 

 of yards they produce of cottons and woollens, in 

 all their varied names and styles ; and that the 

 shoe manufacturers, and most of the mechanics, 

 could also make satisfactory returns of the pro- 

 ducts of their industry, at any moment when re- 

 quired so to do. 



But it is not so with ihe farmer. In our staple 

 crops, we can only approximate the true condi- 

 tion. Who can tell the average, per acre, of the 

 corn, potatoes, wheat, rye, barley and oat crops, 

 and the average cost of each, per bushel, through 

 a series of five or ten years ? Who knows how 

 many milch cows there are in the State, in the 

 aggregate ? to ask nothing of what breeds and 

 of what value they are. Without settling this 

 preliminary inquiry, it is vain to ask what the 

 product of milk, butter and cheese is, through- 

 out the State. Who can tell the cost of beef, 

 per hundred, or of pork, or mutton, so that the 

 farmer, finding the average price in the market 

 for a series of years, can have certain data up- 

 on which to estimate his profits'? or whether it will 

 answer at all for him to engage in this branch of 

 husbandry? How many farmers, when they sell 

 their stock alive, have any definite idea of the 

 shrinkage which should justly be deducted, so as 

 to leave them the fair weight to which they are 

 entitled 1 And so of numerous other questions 

 not enumerated below. 



We take great pleasure in laying the circular 

 which follows before our readers. It will be of 

 importance to those in other States, as it may be 

 suggestive of similar operations among their own 

 people. We hope every person to whom it has 

 been sent, will promptly and faithfully respond to 

 these inquiries of the Secretary. Alone and sin- 

 gle handed, his efforts, though_ever 80 well-timed 



and strenuous, can advance but little the great 

 cause in which we are engaged. The information 

 desired lies among the people, and must come 

 through them to some official centre, where it may 

 be collated and there scattered broad cast through 

 the States. 



Much of the information desired may be obtained 

 from the. books of the Assessors in the several 

 towns, and what cannot be got at there, we trust 

 the friends of the cause will use every proper exer- 

 tions to supply within the time specified. If gen- 

 tlemen to whom this circular has been sent can- 

 not attend to it they should place it in the hands 

 of some person who will. 



Board of Agbicultube, > 

 Secretary's Office, Boston, Sept. ist, 1853. 5 



Dear Sir : — I desire to obtain from each town 

 in the State, such facts and statistics as will enable 

 me to make an accurate statement of the present 

 condition of our Agriculture. 



Any aid which you may be able to render me, 

 either of your knowledge, or by interesting other 

 intelligent and observing men to furnish me with 

 the desired information will be gratefully ac- 

 knowledged. 



Your attention is more particularly called to the 

 following inquiries, with such other suggestions 

 and observations as may be interesting and useful 

 to your town, and to the friends of Agricultural 

 improvement throughont the State : — 



1. What are the chief products of your town ? 



2. The estimated number of acres devoted to 

 each? 



3. The average yield per acre of Grain and In- 

 dian Corn ? 



4. What attention is paid to raising field crops 

 of Beets, Carrots, Ruta Bagas, &c. , and what is the 

 average yield per acre, of each ? 



5. What is the average yield per acre of Eng- 

 lish Hay? 



6. The increase per acre, within the last ten or 

 fifteen years, arising from improved cultivation, or 

 from reclaiming meadow and waste lands ? 



7. The estimated number of acres of reclaimed 

 land? 



8. Is there an increasing or decreasing number 

 of acres in tillage ? 



9. Is there an increasing or decreasing number 

 of acres in pasturage ? 



10. Is the value of farm land increasing or de- 

 creasing ? 



11. What is the estimated per cent, realized on 

 the value of farms, and the capital invested in the 

 management of the same ? 



12. The estimated number of acres of woodland, 

 and the average value per acre ? 



13. The estimated rate of increase or decrease 

 of woodland ? 



14. What Manures are chiefly used, and how 

 applied? What attention is paid to composting, 

 and what is believed to be the most pr ofitable mode 

 of doing it ? 



15. What per cent, increase of Manure might 

 be made on your farms, with reasonable care, and 

 by what means ? 



16. What degree of attention is paid to the 

 breeding of stock? 



17. What breed of Milch Cows and AVorking 

 Oxen is most esteemed ? 



