38 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



to enact laws to induce a return to this economical food, and 

 meat was strictly forl)idden upon two days of the week, and 

 upon all other fish days of the Popish calendar. 



Fish have generally been the cheapest of animal food. Most 

 species multiply in a ratio far exceeding any thing known in 

 agriculture. Our attention has been of late directed to the 

 artificial propagation of fish. Abundant success in France, 

 and considerable success in this vState, and other parts of our 

 country, allow us to anticipate a considerable supply. The 

 farmers of Middlesex North have been deprived of the shad 

 and alewives of the Merrimack, and in spite of legislation and 

 artificial propagation, it is altogether probable that we shall 

 never again have river fish for our tables, and manufacturing 

 towns for our markets. But corporation dominion extends not 

 to the sea. There are as many and as good fish there as ever 

 were caught, and increased quickness of transportation gives 

 us an easy supply. 



The vegetable kingdom affords, by far, the greatest variety of 

 alimentary products. The actual number would be stated in 

 thousands ; a small part only, is known to us. 



The attention of farmers is, at the present time, more than 

 ever before, directed to new products of the soil, and new varie- 

 ties of those with which we are familiar. We are indebted to 

 government for the adoption of a liberal and extensive system, 

 for the introduction and dissemination of new plants and seeds ; 

 but we are even more indebted to individual exertion, and a 

 universal spirit of progress and enterprise among agriculturists 

 to carry out this object. 



The present extent of the culture of the Chinese sugar cane 

 in this country, is a wonderful and instructive fact ; it is but 

 about eight years since a few seeds were first introduced, yet 

 during the present year one hundred thousand acres have, it is 

 estimated, been devoted to its culture. It does not belong to 

 my subject to speak of it, as it is not used for food by human 

 beings. I refer to it only as exhibiting the wonderful rapidity 

 with which information regarding agricultural subjects is dis- 

 seminated, and the general intelligence and earnest enterprise, 

 among farmers throughout our country. 



The attention of agriculturists in the United States, and in 

 Europe, has been of late, directed particularly to the produc- 



