6 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



barns and our cellars, sufficient, at least, to remove any appre- 

 hensions of want for the winter. No greater proof is needed 

 of the stability of farming as an occupation, or of the sub- 

 stantial prosperity of an agricultural community. 



The food effects of legislative action, designed to secure the 

 public against fraud in the manufacture and sale of fertilizers, 

 by providing efficient scientific inspection, are already appar- 

 ent throughout the State, and one of the striking features of 

 the past season was the greatly increased culture of Indian 

 corn, and the unprecedented use of commercial fertilizers as 

 compared with any previous year of our modern farming. 

 This itself shows an increased public confidence in these arti- 

 cles, an element that was wanting previous to the appointment 

 of a competent state inspector. The quality of the fertilizers 

 sold in our markets is unquestionably improved, and the 

 standard is much higher than formerly, while the farmer has 

 some protection against fraud in case he exercises ordinary 

 care in his purchases. The importance of this change, in 

 its influence upon the future of our agriculture, can hardly be 

 overestimated. Nothing is more certain than that successful 

 farm production of any kind here in New England, and, 

 indeed, with slight exceptions, the world over, depends upon 

 the abundant supply of plant-food in some form or other. 

 Nothing is more certain than the fact that the quantity of sta- 

 ble or barn-yard manures that can be made available on any 

 particular farm, is limited and falls far below our wants. If 

 the deficiency can be made up by concentrated fertilizers, 

 with economy and profit, the possibility of the production of 

 human food will be vastly increased and the general prosper- 

 ity promoted. 



PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOAKD 



At WORCESTER. 



The country meeting of the Board, for this year, was held 

 at Horticultural Hall, Worcester, November 14, 15 and 16. 

 The meeting was called to order at half-past eleven o'clock on 

 Tuesday, November 14, by O. B. Hadwen, Esq., of Worces- 

 ter, a member of the Board, representing the Worcester 

 County Society. 



