SECRETARY'S REPORT. 281 



This is a good sign that more attention is paid to stock than has 

 recently been shown. 



It may be worthy the attention of our farmers, in some 

 sections of this county, to inquire into the propriety of erecting 

 cheese or butter factories. Such factories , have become very 

 common. They save much labor to the farmer, and more to his 

 wife and family ; produce an article of uniform quality, and 

 obtain better prices, with a great saving of labor of private sales, 

 than farmers now obtain. If a cheese factory could be started 

 in the neighborhood of Halifax and North Middleborough, or in 

 the vicinity of West and North Bridgewater, with the product, 

 at the outset, of even seventy cows, we think it would pay. A 

 stimulus would be furnished to greater care of land and pastures 

 than is now presented, where milk is not readily sold. The 

 number of cows would soon increase, and the value of farms 

 would rise at once. We trust that some of our friends in those 

 sections will look into the matter closely. Let them visit New 

 Braintree, or Barre, see the operations of their factories, and we 

 doubt not they will soon find a dollar at the bottom of their 

 milk pails. 



GRAPES. 



The culture of grapes is receiving increased attention in the 

 county. Benjamin Clark, of North Bridgewater, raised 1,700 

 pounds of hot-house grapes, and Dr. L. B. Puffer, 300 pounds. 

 Nahum Stetson and Thomas Hooper, of Bridgewater, Charles G. 

 Davis, of Plymouth, and John Higgins, of Rochester, some larger 

 amounts, either in cold or hot houses. 



But it is to vineyard open culture that we think more atten- 

 tion might well be given. We arc told of a crop of fifteen tons 

 of grapes on a single acre, in Concord, in this State, which 

 readily sold for a shilling a pound. The demand will, for many 

 years, largely exceed any possible supply. The trustees will, 

 probably, next year, offer premiums for vineyard culture. Dur- 

 ing the last two years the Isabella has ripened perfectly through- 

 out this county, with very large, full bunches, and the Deleware 

 grape has proved itself prolific, hardy, and suited to our soil and 

 climate. Hon. Jacob H. Loud, of Plymouth, has a vine of this 

 variety which has borne most prodigally for two years past. 

 Where care is taken of them, the Isabella and the Concord have 



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