CAPITAL IN FARMING. 327 



S. B. Phtnney, . . .By the Barnstable Society. 



Herman Vincent, ■ . . . Martha's Vineyard. 



(Signed) Lewis H. Bradford, 



Commiltee. 



Mr. Baker reported as delegate upon the Highland Society, 

 and Dr. Loring upon the Housatonic. 



Mr. Hubbard presented the following essay upon the 



USE OF CAPITAL IN FARMING. 



In considering this suhject, two important questions are in- 

 volved. First, would it be- wise to abandon the farms of New 

 England, as some are doing, and give up its agricultural interests ? 

 If so, the second question, as to how they shall be carried on, 

 needs no consideration. 



I shall assume, and not only assume, but lay it down as a 

 fixed fact, that it is the most unwise policy that can possibly be 

 pursued. Agriculture, commerce, manufactures and the me- 

 chanics arts must go hand in hand. But the agriculture of a 

 nation is its chief corner-stone, the very foundation on which 

 the whole structui'e stands. Strike out this and the whole 

 edifice will crumble and fall. It is the main-spring which 

 moves the whole machinery and gives vitality to all other indus- 

 trial pursuits. 



In following out this question, I suppose we are to be confined 

 more particularly to the agriculture of New England, or our 

 own State. In 1620, the first settlers found their way to our 

 shores and settled at Plymouth. Ten years later commenced 

 the settlement of Boston ; and from that time to the present 

 the population has been increasing and spreading over every 

 part of the State. During all this time its industrious and per- 

 severing inhabitants have turned their attention to the various 

 occupations that have presented themselves, until with some 

 there seems almost to be an idea that farming is of little con- 

 sequence, and may be abandoned, and that young men coming 

 on to tlie stage of action must look for something more lucra- 

 tive and that will bring its returns without much effort. A 

 continual repetition of anything becomes so impressed upon 

 many minds that it becomes to them a reality. And the saying 

 that " farming don't pay " has been so often repeated, that to 



