6 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and white weed ju.st alluded to, which are permitted to mature 

 and the seeds to be scattered on a neighbor's premises, who 

 would have eradicated them, but found unco-operative efforts 

 in vain. 



The large majority, however, in agriculture, are on the high 

 road to prosperity ; its general interests are safe, the danger is 

 in prospect of over doing. Progress is not always improve- 

 ment ; one may progress too far, and in the wrong direction. 

 It is quite time that in this, as well as in other emj)loyments, 

 the pioneer forces were brought up to reflect, to mature, to 

 embellish, to enjoy. The tendency is to add acre to acre, ship 

 to ship, to enrich, to excel, to monopolize. The wealthy farmer 

 is ready to wear himself out with toil and anxiety, to die pre- 

 maturely and alone, his family dispersed, the old homestead 

 unattractive, forsaken, forgotten. 



This, then, is the propitious time for such views as we pre- 

 sent to you to-day, to enter and take hold on the public mind. 

 Every product of the soil, the herd and the dairy, commands a 

 price never before permanently realized in this country ; and 

 the means of producing are more simplified and certain, more 

 than an offset for the increased price of labor. Man}' farmers 

 are also very wisely attending to other business than their own, 

 during winter and other leisure time, affording them profit and 

 ready cash. There is, therefore, annually increased means for 

 necessary outlays and improvements. 



The first and great motive to be urged upon the owner of 

 the farm home, is to secure thereto the attachment of his chil- 

 dren. It is the darling object with most agricultural parents, 

 to keep their sons at home and to induce them to follow con- 

 tentedly the same calling in life. How well they succeed is 

 familiar to all — their failure is acknowledged and deprecated 

 on all hands. 



The agricultural press teems with advice to the sons, but not 

 a word of instruction to the fathers, with whom is the remedy. 

 Neither parents or writers strike at the root of the evil, but 

 seem ratlicr to defeat their own object. They portray to the 

 youthful imagination the temptations and vices of city life — 

 the uncertainty and vexations of all pursuits but their own ; 

 all of which but serves to excite curiosity rather than convic- 



