110 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



power of every farmer in the county to have the use of the best 

 breeding stock of all kinds at a moderate expense. 



I am by no means confident of the feasibility of this ])lan, 

 and therefore only throw out the suggestion in tlie hope it may 

 have sufficient interest to attract the attention and consideration 

 of the trustees of the society. 



Charles Burton. 



PASTURE AND WASTE LANDS. 



ESSEX. 



Report of the Committee. 

 The Committee to wliom was referred the subject of the 

 improvement of pasture and waste lands propose to confine 

 themselves to but one topic in considering the question before 

 them. They fully appreciate the efforts which are constantly 

 made to bring the large tracts of unproductive land, both wet 

 and dry, which occupy so much of the county, into the service 

 of agriculture ; and they take pleasure in congratulating the 

 farmers of this section, in their renewed attempts during the 

 past season to subdue their rough and swampy lands, for the 

 purposes of cropping. But they feel that the most important 

 consideration for the agriculturist here is, how he can best 

 convert useless tracts into profitable pasture lands, or restore 

 those which have suffered from over-stocking, or from neglect. 

 "Wliile some sections of our State are capable of pasturing 

 more cattle than can be kept during the winter, and thus lose 

 a large portion of their summer feed, in Essex Couuty the 

 reverse is true. Here we can winter more cattle than we can 

 summer. Our pastures are less productive than our hay-fields. 

 And we are not only obliged to over-stock the former, but we 

 are induced to resort to that most destructive of all farming 

 operations, the sale of our hay. Except in those instances 

 where, either from proximity to the sea, or from the supply of 

 cities, manure can be chea})ly and easily obtained, the neglect 

 of pasture-lands and the removal of hay, must end in great 



