SECRETARY'S REPORT. 191 



before us, were, with inconsiderable numbers, spread over the 

 State, and, in gaining their living by hunting, required the 

 whole area. As a step above savage life, we have nomadic life, 

 requiring (in the rearing of flocks,) more development of the 

 power of the soil ; then the cultivation of grains, calling for 

 still more ; and, at length, the raising of vegetables and fruits, 

 with a large population gathered on a small area, necessitating 

 a still further concentration of labor. Thus, in the growth of 

 agriculture, has labor from the beginning been more and more 

 gathered on a small area. 



Compare, also, profits. If we were told that the returns of a 

 single acre were a thousand dollars, we might readily believe 

 that profits were a hundred per cent. But if we were told that 

 that thousand dollars came from labor spread over two hundred 

 acres, we should know that the rate of profit could hardly be 

 more than six per cent. 



It may be said, that this principle is readily admitted with 

 regard to good soils in the valleys, but that our mountain farms 

 must of necessity be large, and that these furnish no opportunity 

 for this condensed labor. I think this is only partially true, and 

 that so far as these mountain farmers engage in agriculture at 

 all, and break up the ground, it is well worth their while to 

 cultivate a few fields thoroughly, to the exclusion of others. 



There is also an opportunity for concentration of labor, by 

 reservhig the forest as forest, without the waste of cattle ; by 

 clearing the pasture of bushes, bringing it out to the smilight ; 

 by making meadow yield to its fullest capacity, and by giving 

 the ground about the house the benefit of faithful tillage. 



I draw attention to the connection of this principle with pro- 

 gress in farming. The man who has most concentrated his 

 labor, will be most ready to receive improvements, and will 

 derive the greatest advantage from them. A mountain farmer 

 may have three fields, the labor already expended on which may 

 be expressed by six, by three, by one. Suppose we introduce a 

 new machine — as the reaper and mower. On which field is he 

 to find for it the greatest use ? On that represented by number 

 six, certainly. This field is thoroughly drained, the bushes cut, 

 and the rocks dug out, and the machine may m6ve smoothly 

 over every part. But when he comes to the field represented 

 by number three, there are found many remaining obstacles, 



