12 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



mosphere, at a certain stage of the growth of the onion, and the 

 potato, will produce the parasites that cause the blight and de- 

 struction of these crops, I believe that at such times, when the 

 known conditions are favorable for the production of these para- 

 sitic plants, some application may be made that would ward off 

 their attacks, and save our crops. Here is a wide field for in- 

 vestigation and experiment worthy the attention of the scientific 

 observer, and practical farmer. Let them work together for 

 effectual remedies of these great evils. 



Drought and excessive wet, also, at times operate very much 

 against the farmer's success. The one may be partially remedied 

 by frequent cultivation and hoeing, and the other by a judicious 

 system of under-draining. 



How is farming to be made most profitable ? 

 First, let every farmer consider the locality of his farm with 

 reference to the market for his produce ; then the character of 

 the soil, and size of the farm ; finally his own taste should be 

 carefully studied before deciding upon the kind of farming he 

 will pursue. 



Man is capable of governing nations, of commanding armies 

 and navies, of the conception and construction of the most mi- 

 nute and delicate machinery, as well as the most ponderous 

 steamship that ploughs the ocean. He has united the conti- 

 nents, so that the heart-throbbings of the one are felt through- 

 out the length and breadth of the other. He commands the 

 very elements, and they obey, and do his work, but no one man 

 has done all these things, or any two of them. Neither can any 

 one man conduct successfully all kinds of farming ; life is not 

 long enough to enable one to become an expert in all. 



Darwin, the distinguished naturalist, declares that, " appar- 

 ently, it transcends the power of the human intellect to breed 

 all kinds of fancy pigeons." How much more difficult for one 

 mind to grasp and manage successfully all kinds of farming. 



, The farmer having chosen a specialty in accordance with tlie 

 above principles, let him persevere in it, and he will certainly 

 succeed, take one year with another, provided he pursues a sys- 

 tem of high culture. For I know of no kind of good farming 

 that does not pay well ; while no kind of poor farming will 

 yield more than a poor living. Nor should it. Of course any 

 man, who is a man and cares for the comfort and happiness of 



