FARMING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 83 



AGRICULTURE IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



ESSEX. 

 Essay by Warren A. Durant, of Lawrence. 



When we consider the number of societies that have been 

 formed in this Commonwealth by the tillers of the soil for mu- 

 tual encouragement and improvement, the variety and large cir- 

 culation of periodicals devoted to their interests, the machines 

 and implements which the inventive genius of the day is pro- 

 ducing to lighten their labors, the superiority of modern farm 

 buildings, the new fruits and vegetables which are yearly offered 

 to the public, and improvement in all kinds of stock, it is nat- 

 ural to infer that our agriculture is progressing rapidly, for are 

 not all these things sure indications of a deeper interest, more 

 careful study, and a higher success ? 



It is true there has been a great advance in the ways and 

 means in farm management, that never before did farmers mani- 

 fest so strong a desire for thorough, accurate knowledge, and 

 and never were so many educated men devoting their time and 

 talents to its elevation ; but amid these cheering signs of prog- 

 ress are others of a different character, which give another 

 view to the subject. Ride about any county, traverse the length 

 and breadth of the State, and the traveller may go a long dis- 

 tance without seeing a single work of permanent improvement 

 in progress. Occasionally he will find a man subduing meadow 

 land, or breaking up a rough pasture, but not in a strong-handed, 

 energetic way, as if he were positive of the utility* and profita- 

 bleness of his labor. Here and there he will see new buildings. 

 The fact that the old ones are tumbling down is as often the 

 cause of their erection as the pressing necessity of enlarged ac- 

 commodations. If he examines every farm carefully, he will 

 be surprised at the number where the pastures are growing up 

 to bushes, briers and brambles, where mowing fields need to be 



