166 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



which tliey dispose of at the very highest prices. I undertake 

 to say that that is the very best way in the world. I have 

 realized over eighty dollars from a load of flat turnips which 

 two horses carried into Boston. I say there is not a single 

 product that can be raised so profitable as that, but that is 

 merely an isolated exception. 



I trust that such a degree of attention will be attracted to this 

 subject through the discussions of this Board, that some good 

 result may be achieved. If it can be done anywhere I think it 

 can be done in this State. If we present one solid argument 

 which will strike either the farming community or the city of 

 Boston, the object will be accomplished. What we want is some 

 suggestion that can be carried out. If onions are the crop, if 

 teazles are the crop, or any isolated thing you can mention is 

 the crop, go into it. All I say is, if your crops stop, our ships 

 and our mouths stop. 



Mr. Asa Clement, of Dracut. Mr. Slade's remarks upon 

 marketing have interested me, and so have the speeches of 

 others upon the same subject ; yet after all which has been said 

 in relation to our own and European markets, gentlemen 

 present will not live to see any very radical changes produced 

 in the modes of marketing here. Why, it seems to me perfectly 

 visionary that any Europeon system of disposing of the products 

 of the soil can by our people be adopted, on account of the 

 habits, manners and customs of our citizens and towns-people 

 generally. Possibly the citizens of SutTolk County would be 

 benefited by the purchase of live acres, more or less, out on the 

 Back Bay, and converting the same into a market place, to 

 which the country people could resort at stated times when 

 they had anything in the line of produce to dispose of to their 

 city friends who chose to meet them there, but under the cir- 

 cumstances as they exist, with our system of railroads and 

 freights, many long years will elapse before any considerable 

 portion of the people can be made to see it in that light. 



In ]\Iiddlesex and Essex Counties tlie markets are such that 

 the ])ruducers may, in the main, convey their products directly 

 to the consumers, and if too much is not demanded, may 

 generally dispose of commodities thus, fixing their own price 

 upon the same. In Lowell, for instance, there are hundreds 

 of widows and others with moderate means, who have gone 



