16 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



premium, are highly interesting and instructive. And the 

 reports of committees, with these " statements," and the ad- 

 dresses, composing nearly all there is of the early published 

 transactions, constitute a reliable and valuable fund of informa- 

 tion. Among these papers may be found the admirable farm 

 report of Henry Colman, in 1830 — the commencement of that 

 series of papers written by him on farm stock, on corn, on exact 

 and experimental agriculture, on swine, on the dairy, on agri- 

 cultural publications, on cutting and preparing feed, on Essex 

 County agriculture, for which the farmers of this county will 

 always hold his name in grateful remembrance. The reports 

 upon the mulberry-tree and silk culture, commencing with 

 Edward Mosely's paper, in 1830, containing Gardiner B. Perry's 

 long and elaborate essay on the same subject in 1831, Mr. Mose- 

 ly's second essay in 1833, Mr. Perry's again in 1834, and the 

 report of Temple Cutler, in 1810, form an interesting chapter 

 in the history of that curious attempt to introduce Italian indus- 

 try upon the soil of New England. The writings upon cattle, 

 by Hectar Coffin, who, in 1830, declared that " Essex County is 

 adapted to the breeding of cattle, but to a very limited extent ; " 

 by R. A. Merriam, on the diseases of animals ; by John W. 

 Proctor, treating of cattle for New England farms ; and by nu- 

 merous practical and sensible judges acting as committees at 

 the exhibitions, may be consulted with advantage by all who 

 desire information on this valuable branch of agricultural 

 industry. Our attention is particularly attracted by the report 

 made by John Torrey, of Newbury, with regard to the cost of 

 keeping a cow from February 5 to September 28, 1831, as 

 follows : — 



Half a ton of salt hay, ..... 

 45 bushels of small grain, ..... 

 Stalks and suckers from 195 rods of land, . 

 One bushel of potatoes, ..... 

 Pasturing from August 5 to September 28, . 



Total, $9 07 



An account worth remembering in these extravagant days. 



