144 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



improving their soils — such as produce the largest crops, the 

 best cattle, the finest and fleetest horses, the most profitable 

 sheep, the most desirable breed of hogs, the choicest varieties 

 of the different species of poultry, <fcc. ; also concerning the 

 best and most economical methods of farm management, in- 

 cluding the implements, so as to be able to select the best kind 

 of plough, seed planter, cultivator, mowing machine, horse rake, 

 &c. ; also to learn the art of ploughing different soils, whether 

 deep or shallow; whether it is cheaper to use oxen or horses 

 as a team ; the mode of seeding with grain ; when ; and whether 

 it be better to sow grass seed in the fall or spring; how to 

 save, mix, compost, and multiply manures so as to produce the 

 greatest possible amount from the materials employed; ascer- 

 tain how to use them on the soil to the best advantage ; in the 

 rotation of crops, learn whether it be better to take two crops 

 of corn in succession from the same field than one ; how to 

 employ all labor-saving machines, so called, in order to cheapen 

 labor by gaining or saving time ; also to learn something every 

 season by careful and intelligent experimenting and observa- 

 tion, — so that his growth in knowledge, experience, and wis- 

 dom in his noble vocation shall more than keep pace with the 

 progress and improvement annually developed in the skilful 

 management of his farm. Then will farming not only pay, but 

 will become, also, a source of pleasure and delight akin to 

 that enjoyed in horticulture before man received the sentence, 

 " In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread." The hand, 

 when guided by a well-instructed mind and pure taste, all un- 

 der the influence and promptings of a good heart, will so beau- 

 tify the farm acres as to render every farmer's home a fit 

 dwelling-place for Nature's truest nobleman — the farmer. 



Report of the Committee. 



What your committee find specially to commend in the prac- 

 tice of Mr. K. Hubbard is, that lie digs up and brings to his 

 pig pen and yard, in those parts of the year when farm work 

 is least pressing, sufficient swamp muck to completely deodo- 

 rize the excrements of the animals, and to retain all their fer- 

 tilizing properties till wanted by growing plants — thus doubling, 



