160 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



my invariable answer has been, " Let it grow up to wood." 

 Wood is worth six dollars a cord with us, and there are more 

 acres of woodland growing in Worcester County to-day than 

 there were fifty years ago, although not so much wood. This 

 sour land is selling for about ten dollars an acre, and it is a very 

 good investment, if a man can wait thirty years for his returns. 

 It does for a long, safe investment. 



With regard to planting clover, it operates very well to the 

 westward, but in our rough, rocky land there are but very few 

 acres where we can do it. We have, however, some hills that 

 are worth preserving. Those hills are natural grass lands, and 

 they will produce clover for pasturage by the application of 

 plaster of Paris. That land should be kept in pasture and 

 mowing. But if you look around it you will find different 

 land ; you will find drift. I never saw any drift soil that would 

 bear plaster. Now land which will heap plaster is worth four 

 times, ten times, as much as that which will bear none at all. 



A gentleman has spoken to us about the phosphate of lime 

 that has been discovered in South Carolina. If it can be ren- 

 dered available in the manner which I suppose it may be, it will 

 be almost infinitely valuable ; but if we can draw our manure 

 from the Western States we do not need it. If we can raise 

 our own beef and fat our own hogs we can enrich our State 

 beyond bounds. 



On motion of Mr. Hubbard, of Brimfield, the Board adjourned 

 to 7^ o'clock in the evening. 



EVENING SESSION. 



At the hour appointed for the evening meeting, the hall was 

 densely crowded, the audience having been attracted by the 

 announcement that Prof. Agassiz was to be the speaker. 

 The Chairman, before introducing the lecturer, said : — 

 In introducing to you, ladies and gentlemen, the distinguished 

 lecturer of the evening, it is hardly necessary that I should say 

 a word. Standing pre-eminent among the great scientific men 

 of the world, his name affectionately cherished wherever learn- 

 ing and science are cultivated, it is yet the pride of the Massa- 

 chusetts Board of Agriculture that he is one of that body. I 

 now have the pleasure of introducing to you Prof. Agassiz, a 

 member of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. 



