SECRETARY'S REPORT. 297 



factiircr are sure to avail themselves of all these advantages, and 

 the farmer finds that, in order to keep pace with them, he must 

 avail himself of all these helps, thereby rendering farming more 

 easy, pleasant, and remunerative, thus tending to invite, rather 

 than repel, young men from the farm. The farm, with all its 

 surroundings, should be made pleasant and attractive. 



There seems to be an increasing interest in the production 

 of fruit. Many are realizing that this has not received its due 

 share of attention. The idea with many has been that if fruit 

 trees were only procured and set, they would require no further 

 attention. This idea is, to a great extent, dispelled, and more 

 attention is given to the production of nice fruit, which is a 

 source of profit, as well as a great luxury. No one thinks of 

 planting a field of corn without first preparing the ground, and 

 giving it careful attention during the entire season. Fruit trees 

 also need their share of attention, as well as all other crops. 



I regret that the requisition for facts regarding the agricultural 

 interests of my particular locality came too late to give me such 

 opportunity as I should desire, but hope in future to be more 

 definite. Newton S. Hubbard. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



The following report on the agriculture of Hampshire County, 

 is, of necessity, made up only in part from personal observation, 

 and this the more limited from the fact that the writer has been 

 absent for some months in the summer season : 



Grass being the foundation of Massachusetts husbandry, it 

 deserves the first notice. This crop, especially the first cutting, 

 was unusually good. The almost universal use of the mower 

 and horse-rake, and, to some extent, the tedder and horse pitch- 

 fork, have come to make the harvesting of this crop compara- 

 tively a pastime ; and yet, with all these facilities, the price is 

 much higher than it used to be. This year it ranges from 

 eighteen to twenty-five dollars per ton. 



The corn crop was good, but not quite equal to last year, the 

 drought ripening up the crop prematurely in some instances. 



Potatoes are good in quality and size, but the crop is not as 

 large as last year. 



More broom-corn was planted than last year, and the crop was 

 fair — in some instances large and the seed remarkably fme. 

 88» 



