118 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



two thousand four hundred acres. At first thought, these 

 items are apalling; yet it is believed tliat by proper modes of 

 cultivation and effort, the farmers of the State can produce 

 every thing necessary for the sustenance of its people. And 

 agricultural and State pride should spur them persistently to 

 the work. 



It may be said by some doubter that our soil and climate are 

 such that we had better engage in manufacturing and mechan- 

 ical pursuits, and exchange the products of our labor in these 

 branches of industry, for our bread stuffs. This question it is 

 not proposed to argue to any length here. But it is extremely 

 humiliating to our feeling of pride and independence to know 

 that Ave are indebted to any body for the staff of life. It is true 

 of States and Nations, as of individuals, that those are most 

 truly prosperous and powerful which rely solely on their own 

 exertions and skill to produce a supply for all their varied wants. 

 Colman justly remarks, that " An agricultural community 

 should, as far as possible, produce every article of first necessity, 

 which they require for consumption. There may be products 

 utterly unsuited to their soil and climate, but in all cases, and 

 always, when there is no obstacle absolutely insurmountable to 

 persevering labor, success is a moral gain. In a pecuniary 

 view, however, there can be no doubt that Massachusetts would 

 find her account in producing her bread from her own soil. 

 Vast sums of money are now sent out of the State for bread. 

 This capital, applied to the improvement and cultivation of her 

 own soil, would immensely increase its productiveness. Labor, 

 judiciously and liberally applied to agriculture, produces not 

 merely the immediate and particular crop sought for, but has 

 a cumulative influence in preparing the same land for other 

 and larger crops. The value of the land thus cultivated is 

 often doubled, quadrupled, and increased ten-fold, by being 

 thus rendered more productive." 



Another important consideration is the fact that the native 

 qualities of the great wheat regions of the West, for growing 

 wheat, are becoming exhausted by constant cropping, and unless 

 some new modes of cultivation are adopted, will soon fail in 

 their ability to furnish our supply. A few years ago, Delaware, 

 Maryland and Virginia were great wheat-growing States. Now 

 it is cultivated there to a limited extent, and with indifferent 



