166 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



charges of transportation and the extra profits paid to middle 

 men. The prime cost, for some years to come, at least, will also 

 be largely increased by the short supply consequent upon the 

 ravages of war, and the interruj)tion of agricultural operations 

 in the rebel States. At the opening of the rebellion the south- 

 western States were overstocked, but, at the present time, we 

 cannot doubt that those States now fall far below the average 

 number required for every 100 of its inhabitants, and, conse- 

 quently, were there no interruption to transportation, would 

 have none to export. For years to come, beef, butter, cheese 

 and milk will command high prices, and especially in those 

 sections where there is the greatest deficiency of these products. 



What will the farmers of Massachusetts do ? They must 

 make up their minds to do one of two things. Either to sit 

 down under the high prices that will rule for an indefinite 

 period, or, by increasing their stock, enter into competition with 

 the western stock raiser for the hoine market. No one, we 

 think, can doubt that, while our State lacks 46 neat cattle to' 

 supply the wants of every 100 of her inhabitants, it can be 

 otherwise than profitable to enter into the business of cattle 

 raising. It will be a long time, we fear, before beef and the 

 products of the dairy will come down to the quotations of the 

 prices current of three years ago. 



There is breadth enough of unclaimed swamps and abused 

 pasture in Massachusetts, we believe, to support, and without 

 detriment to its broad acres of tillage and grass land, all the 

 cattle necessary to supply the wants of all its inhabitants. To 

 accomplish this desirable, and, without any manner of doubt, 

 profitable result, there must be more labor and more manure. 

 With the great and increasing influx of a vigorous and hardy 

 immigration, the farmer can supply himself with all the labor 

 he needs, and by renewed and intelligent husbandry, increase 

 the quantity and quality of his fertilizers to the full measure of 

 his wants. 



We have little doubt that the discovery and verification of the 

 two laws governing the " distribution and movement of cattle 

 in the United States," will lead to a greatly improved condition 

 of agriculture, especially in New England. 



