20 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The manner of conducting the exhibitions has not changed 

 since the first show was held at Topsfield. 



The introduction of improved breeds of cattle in the county 

 by members of the society has been carried on with liberality 

 and energy. E. Hersey Derby, of Salem, and Gorham Parsons, 

 of By field, were among the early importers of what were called 

 Durhams in their day ; the Alderney was introduced by Col. 

 Pickering, in 1825, and in later years by C. G. Loring, R. S. 

 Fay, R. S. Rogers, and others. Ayrshires were imported in 

 1846 by William S. Marland, of Andover, and Charles A. Stet- 

 son, of Swampscott, and by Geo. B. Loring in 1858. An Ayr- 

 shire bull was consigned to Moses Newell, of Newbury, by the 

 Massachusetts Society in 1857, and Dutch cattle were intro- 

 duced by William A. Russell, of Lawrence, in 1865. The im- 

 provement of stock in the county is now evident, and the " dark 

 brindle bull," wliich took the first premium in 1820, would 

 stand a small chance in these days, especially under the society's 

 offer for the " best full-blood bull." 



I have no doubt, and you have none, that all this effort of 

 tlie society, which I have recited to you as much in detail as 

 time will allow, has promoted the cause of agriculture among 

 us, and has encouraged us to overcome those difficulties which 

 arise from a hard soil and climate ; and yet it is interesting and 

 instructive to look back and see what crops our fathers raised, 

 when this society was yet in its infancy. I have already spoken 

 of Tristram Little's corn crop of 103 1 bushels to the acre, and 

 now let me give you a statement, made in 1829, of the crops 

 which had then been raised at different times in different parts 

 of this county : — 



Of wheat, 24 bushels and 26 bushels to the acre. 



Of Indian corn, 70 bushels, 72 bushels, 77^ bushels, 90-|- 

 bushels, 93| bushels, 105 bushels and 6 quarts, 110 bushels, 

 113|- bushels, 115 bushels, 117^ bushels. 



Of barley, 50 bushels, 51^- bushels, 52 bushels and 18 quarts. 



Of potatoes, 518|- bushels. 



or ci;rrots, 849 bushels, 864 bushels, and 878 bushels, at 56 

 pounds to the bushel, and 900 bushels. 



Of mangold wurtzel, 924 bushels, and 1,034 bushels. 



Of ruta-baga, 688 bushels. 



Of beets, 783 bushels. 



