124 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the present, was, that the native fertility of our older fields, 

 necessary for wlieat-growing, had l^ccome exhausted ; and the 

 few attempts made to renovate them for its culture, were, by 

 methods and manures, injurious to the full and healthy devel- 

 opment of the plant. The mere fact of its liability to disease, 

 to destruction occasionally or frequently by enemies, will not 

 account for its non-cultivation. The rot has occasionally 

 turned our potato fields into a nuisance, that were giving 

 promise of a bountiful harvest, and thus blasted the farmer's 

 hope. The frost frequently, at one fell swoop, cuts off nearly 

 all our fruits, when the trees are growing luxuriantly. Our 

 corn fields are injured by frost, blast and smut, when their 

 growth gives indication of abundant crops. And drought often 

 causes all our productions to give us but a scanty supply. And 

 yet no one thinks it best to cease the cultivation of these pro- 

 ducts, so long as the power of the earth to produce them has 

 not failed. These causes and results are transient as the 

 various changes of the seasons, and may occur only at long 

 intervals. But if the soil, as is found in the survey of our wheat 

 culture, refuses for a long series of years to bring forth its 

 product, an effectual stop is put to all success, until it is reno- 

 vated. 



Since 1855, unceasing efforts have been made in all parts of 

 the State, to increase its cultivation by new methods of culture 

 and fertilization. The agricultural societies have, most of 

 them, offered yearly premiums to encourage farmers to engage 

 in this branch of husbandry, and with success. The following 

 is the sum paid by each society in 1861 : — Hampden East, four 

 dollars ; Hoosac Valley, seven dollars ; Hampshire, six dollars ; 

 Worcester South-East, six dollars ; Plymouth, thirteen dollars ; 

 Franklin, five dollars; Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden, 

 one dollar ; Middlesex, five dollars ; Martha's Vineyard, seven 

 dollars ; Worcester West, four dollars ; Norfolk, six dollars ; 

 Worcester North, ten dollars ; Middlesex North, six dollars ; 

 Nantucket, eight dollars ; Housatonic, nineteen dollars ; Wor- 

 cester, four dollars ; Essex, eight dollars ; Bristol, six dollars. 

 The societies that offered no premiums were the Higliland, 

 Hampden, Barnstable, Berkshire, Massachusetts, and Worcester 

 South. Most of the gentlemen who answered our circulars 

 say, "A large portion of the farms raise wheat." That " the 



