334 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



farm, the little surplus over what is wanted for home consump- 

 tion is taken to market. As a consequence, sales are uncertain 

 and the proceeds come in by driblets. And there is at present 

 little inducement to go largely into any one production. But 

 create a fixed market near at hand, and our farming would at 

 once shape itself accordingly. One farmer would take to neat 

 stock, another to sheep and another to pigs, and they would all 

 aim to have the best breeds, and the best animals to take to the 

 market. Quick sales, too, would be had for them, if it was 

 known, as it would be, when and where they were to be offered 

 for sale.. At the same market the farmer could buy what he is 

 now forced to raise or to purchase at great disadvantage. The 

 farmer who went into stock raising, would not be likely to raise 

 all other farm products, as he could find them at hand, on 

 market day, much cheaper. There would thus be a division of 

 agricultural labor that would be for the common good. Few 

 farmers in this State think of raising their own wheat, as they 

 can buy flour much cheaper ; and so it will be of many other 

 farm products, when these markets are once established. 



We have dwelt thus at length on the general advantages of 

 regular fairs or market days, if established throughout the State ; 

 let us now consider some of the particular benefits to be derive(J 

 from them. Every farmer wishes, more or less times in the 

 year, to purchase live stock, either young animals to keep over 

 winter, stores to fat, milch cows to recruit his dairy, or working 

 oxen, or a bull, or a horse, or swine, sheep or poultry. Some 

 of these are sure to be needed by him, and he must either ride 

 round among the surrounding farmers, or he must go to Brighton 

 or Cambridge, to make his purchases. The former course is 

 attended with much loss of time and vast uncertainty of find- 

 ing the precise animals wanted. The latter involves much 

 expense, and the inconvenience of making the desired purchase 

 at a distance from home, which distance must be travelled by 

 the animals as well as himself, to reach home. 



Now, if there were a cattle fair held monthly or quarter-yearly 

 in his neighborhood, he might at a trifling expense resort to it 

 with the certainty or high probability of making his purchases, 

 and he can return with them the same day to his farm. Or 

 suppose that he has an ox which he wishes to mate ; he can drive 

 him to the fair and he may there meet with another farmer 



