194 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



who is incapable of exercising these desirable faculties can never 

 be greatly benefited in his labors by science. 



Since 18G6, the cash receipts arising from sales of produce 

 from my farm have been steadily increasing. The araou-nt 

 reached during the past year (1869), as shown from the farm 

 books, was •$2,458.30, and this year, ending in January, the sum 

 will be considerably larger. The amount paid out for labor, 

 seeds, tools, with interest on cost of farm, taxes, <fcc., very 

 nearly balances this amount. During the time it has been in 

 my hands important improvements have been made, which have 

 probably doubled its cash value. These improvements have 

 been carried on in connection with the farm work, and but little 

 additional labor has been called in to assist the regular em- 

 ploy<?s. I have usually employed but one man during the 

 entire year, who acts as superintendent, and he is assisted in 

 the spring, summer and autumn, by two others. "With a 

 multiplicity of other and exacting labors and cares upon my 

 hands, the affairs of the farm have been managed at a disadvan- 

 tage, so far as personal labor and oversight is concerned, and 

 this must be considered in estimating the value of the results 

 attained. I have reason to believe that the cash returns from 

 milk, grain, stock, fruits, &c., sold this year will reach to nearly 

 or quite three thousand dollars, which, under all the disadvan- 

 tages of hired labor and limited personal supervision, may 

 perhaps be regarded as quite satisfactory. Is farming profit- 

 able in New England ? or to modify the inquiry somewhat, so 

 as to render it more important and interesting. Can farming 

 be conducted in New England so as to be profitable ? Let us 

 examine this question in the light of the experience we have 

 had, and which has been very imperfectly set forth in the 

 remarks here presented. 



The old adage " What has once been done can be done again," 

 suggests itself to the mind, and if it is universally true, every 

 soil cultivator ought to be able to accomplish what has been 

 done by another. If these results are satisfactory, and if every 

 one can reach the same or accomplish as much, tiien farming 

 as an industrial pursuit in New England is fairly remunerative 

 and satisfactory. If a farm of one hundred acres in poor con- 

 dition can by the aid of special and chemical fertilizers be reno- 

 vated and made to support in seven years a sufficiency of stock 



