76 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ticut River beef commanded a good price in the Boston and 

 Watertown markets. Fattening cattle was followed for 

 years and years. Our farmers would go out and search the 

 hill towns, buy the best oxen they could find in the fall, 

 feed them through the winter, and in the spring they would 

 be driven to the Boston or Watertown market ; but since 

 Western beef has come on here in such large quantities, that, 

 of course, has interfered with our profits, — the Western peo- 

 ple can raise it so much cheaper. But after all, I think that 

 was a very good product for our farmers. We could turn 

 what we raised on our farms into beef and get good pay for 

 it, and get the proceeds of our crops back on our farms for 

 manuring ; but, as I said, that system died out until within 

 a few years, when it has started up again. I have a car-load 

 of cattle that were bought at Watertown, in my barn now. 

 I shall feed them through the winter, and then they will go 

 back again. Some of my neighbors are doing the same 

 thing ; some seven or eight car-loads have been brought to 

 our town that will be fed this winter. I think, when they 

 go back next spring they will return a good profit. 



The Chairman. There is a gentleman present who is 

 largely interested in the production of beef, and we should 

 be glad to hear from him. I refer to Mr. Cragin, President 

 of the Worcester North Society. 



Mr. Cragin. I am very well aware that we, as a people, 

 have given up almost entirely the home production of beef; 

 and still I remember that, in some one's essay, reference 

 was made to one old farmer who, at the time of making 

 his will, exhibited quite an amount of property, which his 

 neighbors were very much surprised at. They asked him 

 how he had managed to accumulate so much property. His 

 answer was that he could not tell, unless it had been by 

 raising cattle, fattening them and selling them for less than 

 cost. I believe it is true that land can be bought cheaper in 

 Massachusetts to-day, for the purpose that has been set 

 forth, than good lands can be bought for in the West. We 

 are very well aware that the West is fast becoming filled up 

 with farmers, who are taking up every acre of land that is 

 available ; and for the past three years I have my doubts 

 whether the raising of cattle on the prairies of the West 



