SIZE OF FARMS;- 23 



liiicl of this kind were almost universal. Even at this 

 day we know men, active, intelligent and industrious, 

 possessed of this extent of land, who are labouring for 

 others, or taking charge of their neighbours concerns, 

 upon the avowed reason, that they cannot support their 

 families upon 30 or 40 acres ! Yet their lands are good. 

 The owners are industrious, intelligent, possessed of a 

 strong desire of living independent. But they do not 

 realize the actual efficiency of the soil, undoubtedly 

 there are many honorable^exceptions to the observation 

 we are about to make ; as a general truth, it may be 

 asserted, that the farmers of ^~EV^-ENGLAXD are yet to 



LEARN THE IMMENSE PRODUGTIAIE POWER OF A PERFECTLY CUL- 

 TIVATED ACRE. Instead of seeking riches in augmenting 

 the number of their acres, let them be sought in better 

 modes of husbandry. As a general truth, we believe it 

 may be asserted that every farmer in New-England, 

 possessed of 100 acres of land, might divide them 

 fairly, by quantity and quality, into thirds, and by a suit- 

 able cultivation, make either third more productive than 

 his whole 100 acres are at present. This is the oper- 

 ration, at which those interested in the agriculture of 

 New-England, ought chiefly to aim — to make farmers 

 realize what cultivation can effect, and to teach the 

 modes, by which the productive power of the soil can 

 best be elicited. 



It has been said, that the man who makes two ears' 

 of corn, or two blades of grass grow where but one 

 grew before, is one of the greatest benefactors to man- 

 kind ; and that the man who, by good management, 

 makes one acre produce as much as two did before, has 

 added another and better acre to his estate. Mr. Mad- 

 ison illustrates this opinion by quoting one of the Ro- 

 man writers on husbandry, who enforces the obligation 

 to improving managementj by the story of one Paritli- 



