286 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



it would not be the best method for Middlesex farmers to adopt ; 

 and the reason is evident enough, and it is this — we can and do 

 raise some other crops that pay us better, such as vegetables, 

 fruits and milk, for which there is a constant and increasing 

 delnand, and which certainly pay better than wool, mutton or 

 beef. The increased demand for milk alone has caused the 

 farmers to make great improvements on their farms, partly from 

 the fact that now they consume on their farms nearly all their 

 English hay, instead of selling it in the markets of the large 

 towns, and by this process they make much larger quantities of 

 better manure than formerly. 



The number of tons of English hay has, within a few years, 

 increased immensely. Take, for instance, the town of Concord. 

 The number of tons of English hay is about two thousand more 

 than in the year 1800, and much the largest portion of this 

 increase has been since the farmers began to sell milk — say 

 within twenty-five years ; and I do not suppose that Concord has 

 increased this product more, relatively, than other towns in the 

 county. And in judging of the progress of farming in almost 

 any locality, the increased quantity of English hay will be a 

 good criterion, except in towns devoted to market-gardening, 

 as they usually have the means of procuring manure from the 

 cities in their more immediate vicinity, which they use for other 

 crops that pay better. 



Among other questions proposed by me to gentlemen in the 

 different towns, was one as to the condition of the apple orchards, 

 as it is one of our most important products. From Brighton, 

 Lexington, Belmont, Somerville, Newton, Watertown, West 

 Cambridge, Cambridge and Winchester, the orchards are 

 reported as worthless, and in many instances are being dug up 

 by the roots. In Framingham, Woburn, Burlington, Dunstable, 

 Waltham, Weston, Carlisle, Wayland and South Reading, as 

 failing. In Bedford, Acton, Littleton, Billerica, Boxborough, 

 Lincoln, Groton, Stow, Shcrborn and Westford as in good con- 

 dition. In some of the other towns as not improving. But 

 from all the towns it is stated that it is much more difficult to 

 raise apples than formerly, from the great increase of insects, 

 and perhaps some other unknown causes, as, for instance, the 

 occurrence of a thunder storm while the trees are in blossom. 

 As the production of apples is a very large and important 



