46 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMING. 



From an Address before the Hampshire, Frankliu and Ilampden Agricultural Society, Oct. 14, 1858 



BY GEORGE B. LORING. 



Farming is by far the most important occupation in New 

 England. In 1850 the whole number of farmers in the six 

 States was one hundred and sixty-seven thousand six hundred 

 and fifty-one. The number of acres improved was eleven 

 millions one hundred and fifty thousand five hundred and fifty- 

 four. The value of the farms Avas three hundred and eighty- 

 two millions three hundred and forty-eight thousand five 

 hundred and forty-three dollars. In Massachusetts alone, the 

 number of farms was thirty-four thousand and fifty-nine. The 

 number of acres improved was two millions one hundred and 

 thirty-tliree thousand four hundred and thirty-six. The capital 

 invested in agriculture was one hundred and nine millions 

 seventy-six thousand three hundred and forty-nine dollars. In 

 order to give you a comparative view of agriculture and manu- 

 factures, I would state that in the same year, in New England, 

 the capital invested in manufactures was one hundred and fifty- 

 eight millions one hundred and eighteen thousand one hundred 

 and nine dollars, much less than half the value of the farms ; 

 and in Massachusetts it was eighty-three millions three hundred 

 and fifty-seven thousand six hundred and forty-two dollars, 

 about two-thirds of the value of the farms in our own State. 



You will see by these figures, that while other occupations 

 have built their monuments almost to the skies, while cities 

 have started into life at the " stamp of their feet," while all 

 that is gorgeous, and grand, and imposing, has been wrapt 

 around them to make their greatness known to man, there is 

 an unobtrusive branch of industry, which outweighs them all, 

 both in material wealth and in those silent influences which are 



