60 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



most profitable ; that the land resents ill treatment ; that 

 money invested in manure, in deep ploughing, in minute pul- 

 verization of the soil, in repeated stirring of the surface devoted 

 to grain crops and potatoes, comes back with interest. Simi- 

 lar remarks might be made respecting the choice and treatment 

 of cows and cattle. Great light has been thrown on all these 

 topics by papers and books, and the farmers of this county 

 begin to appreciate the value of their instructions. 



We have noticed that farming flourishes most in connection 

 with the mechanic arts. These introduce a numerous popula- 

 tion, which forms a home market for the productions of the 

 farm. In places where there is no such population, the number 

 of farmers decreases by emigration: the number of farms 

 diminishes while their size increases ; landed property accumu- 

 lates in fewer hands ; foreign laborers supply the place of na- 

 tives ; the number of persons profitably interested in agricul- 

 ture becomes smaller ; and the towns lose both wealth and influ- 

 ence. We consider it an advantage to the farmers to have so 

 many flourishing mechanical and manufacturing establishments 

 as now exist in this county. They furnish the farmers with 

 inducements' to cultivate the land in a better manner, to keep 

 stock of a superior quality, and to increase the amount of fruit 

 and vegetables, of milk and butter, for home consumption. A 

 dense population tends to sustain prices and to counterbalance 

 the present increased expense of farming operations. 



We cannot but notice great improvements in the construction 

 of farm buildings in different parts of the county. We regard 

 this as an indication of increased interest as well as success in 

 agriculture, and of more study and reflection upon the best 

 methods of conducting its operations. Among those recently 

 erected, we might specify the bam of Hon. B. V. French, in 

 Braintree, as, for convenience and labor-saving, an almost fault- 

 less model. Few farmers, it is true, need or could afford so 

 expensive a structure; but we would advise all, of whatever 

 means, who intend to build, to examine Mr. French's barn, be- 

 cause, in our opinion, ii is excelled by none in the county. 



We would also call the attention of farmers to the improved 

 implements of husbandry and labor-saving machines. This is 

 a matter of vital consequence. While the price of labor is so 



