THE PROBLEM OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 63 



instead of one pound, as he had been able to do by hand. This 

 wonderful labor-saving machine has exerted an influence on the indus- 

 trial interests of the world, and has placed cotton foremost among 

 our national exports. 



The production of wine in the Atlantic colonies was believed to be 

 practicable by many of the early settlers, and several of the governors 

 endeavored to encourage the planting of vineyards. In 1758, the 

 London Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Commerce, and 

 Manufactures proposed the following premium for the wine itself: 

 "As producing wines in our American colonies will be of great advan- 

 tage to those colonies, and also to this kingdom, it is proposed to give 

 to that planter, in any of our said colonies, who shall first produce, 

 within seven years from the date hereof, from his own plantation, 

 five tons of white or red wine, made of grapes, the produce of these 

 colonies only, and such as, in the opinion of competent judges, ap- 

 pointed by the society in London, shall be deemed deserving the 

 reward not less than one ton thereof to be imported to London 

 one hundred pounds." 



14. THE SELF-SUFFICING AGRICULTURE OF A 

 GENERATION AGO 1 



BY RODNEY WELCH 



During my childhood, which was passed on a rocky hillside farm 

 in New England,' farmers constituted a class more nearly independent 

 than any other in the community. They were engaged in domestic 

 husbandry, which embraced the care of cultivated fields, pastures, 

 gardens, orchards, and forests. They produced nearly all the food 

 that was necessary for their families. The owner of a small farm not 

 infrequently raised corn, wheat, rye, barley, and buckwheat, as well 

 as potatoes and all kinds of garden vegetables. The sweets for the 

 table were often limited to the sugar and molasses that he made from 

 the sap of the maple and to the honey collected by his bees. Small 

 game was obtained from the forest, and trout were caught in the 

 streams that flowed among the hills. The lakes afforded larger fish, 

 like perch and pickerel. Every farmer's intention was to raise each 

 needful article of food that the climate and soil enabled him to pro- 

 duce. Even condiments, like pepper, caraway seed, sage, and other 



1 Adapted from "The Farmer's Changed Condition," Forum, X (February, 

 1891), 689-92. 



