APPENDIX. vii 



tant articles, from one-tenth to one-lialf, and even more, of the total products 

 of the State. It is curious to note, also, that this result is brought 

 about by small farms, Middlesex having instead of one-ninth, more than 

 one-seventh of the farms in the State ; in fact, about two-thirds of the 

 farms in this county are in size under fifty acres. (Those of us who 

 listened to Prof. Bascom's lecture, at Worcester, on the political economy 

 of agriculture, will see here a very striking illustration of the principle 

 laid down and illustrated by him so forcibly, viz., that while in manu- 

 factures diffusion of capital tends to an increase of profit, in agriculture 

 that result is to be reached only by its concentration.) 



The chief interest in this county lies in the dairy stock, in which there 

 is invested about a million and a half of dollars ; in the hay crop, the 

 value of which is probably about the same ; and the orchard and market- 

 garden products, of which is raised more than a million dollars worth. 



As might be expected, I found the chief attraction inside of the hall, 

 in the show of fruits and vegetables, and outside in the several herds of 

 cows on exhibition. Of the exhibition of fruits and vegetables it 

 would be hard to speak in too high praise. Size does not seem to have 

 been thought of so much as perfection of form and quality. This is as 

 it should be, and where there was such uniform excellence it would be 

 invidious to particularize. I would say, however, that if I might make 

 a single exception, and were permitted to go outside of the fair grounds, 

 it would be in favor of the worthy secretary of the society, whose vine- 

 yard of Concord grapes, two and three years old, presented attractions, 

 both to the eye and the palate, that will not soon be forgotten. Here, 

 too, was a demonsti'ation of the practicability and profit of grape cul- 

 ture. Before the eye were the luxuriant vines, and every vine had its 

 burden, twenty and thirty pounds to the vine, and every cluster sold at 

 twenty cents per pound. 



In respect to neat stock, taking from the exhibition the cows and 

 heifers, very little would be left ; but the two or three herds on the 

 grounds were fine specimens of their kinds, and proved the increasing 

 attention that is given to the breeding of cattle in this part of the State. 

 I noticed particularly a herd of Jerseys, bred originally by John B. 

 Moore, Esq., of Concord, and sold by him to J. L. Hurd, which bore 

 the mai'ks not only of careful breeding, but of generous treatment. 



The show of horses from the stables of the president of the society 

 was quite extensive, and showed his interest in this important depart- 

 ment of stock-raisimr. 



In the organization and management of the society, with due defer- 

 ence to its present able officers, I venture to suggest some alterations. 

 First, the procuring of new grounds and buildings. This, however, I 

 understand, is in a fair way of being accomplished. Second, the devot- 



