74 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



portant question, and discussion is now in order. I feel that 

 we have a speaker who is competent to answer all your 

 questions. 



Mr. Arthur A. Smith of Colraine. I have only one 

 suggestion to make to the gentleman who has read the very 

 interesting essay, and that is, that when capitalists get 

 ready to buy pasture I have a large amount, up in Franklin 

 County, which I would like to sell at five dollars an acre. 

 It is very good sheep pasture ; and I know of a great many 

 others who would like to dispose of their pasture-lands at 

 the same rate. What he said in his essay in regard to the 

 farms which might be obtained at a very low price, even in 

 Massachusetts, is true. I am well aware, as many present 

 are, that this matter of the consumption of beef is attract- 

 ing the attention of the people throughout this State, and 

 there is a demand which is constantly increasing in all the 

 o;reat cities of the land for better beef. I think that this 

 paper has mapped out for enterprising capitalists a plan 

 which they can with profit adopt ; and while to some extent 

 it may. not be entirely practical, yet I believe that it has 

 points of practical application, and that the beef-producing 

 people of this State are the ones who are going to make the 

 money, — not only the producers of beef, but of mutton. 

 But in order to do it I do not think it is essential or neces- 

 sary that we should co-operate with the West in the growing 

 of young stock for beef. I believe that we can enter into 

 that just as well, and raise stock here upon these hill sides 

 and these sheep ranges, on a small scale, as we can in co- 

 operation with them. I think this is a subject which the 

 Board miffht with advantac^e have considered earlier, and that 

 this matter of beef production is one which should be dis- 

 cussed largely at this meeting. I think it is most pertinent 

 to the occasion, and should receive the attention, not only of 

 the Board, but of the citizens of this interior part of the 

 Commonwealth that is so well adapted to profit by it. 



The Chairman. I think the butchers ought to know 

 something about this matter. There is a gentleman here 

 that I think can give you some information upon it. I refer 

 to Mr. Burgess of Nantucket. 



Mr. Burgess. It is my experience of raising beef that 



