WASTES OF AGRICULTURE. 485 



THE WASTES OF AGRICULTURE. 



From an Address before the Housatonic Society. 



BY HON. GEO. S. BOUTAVELL. 



Farmers cultivate too much land. This observation is 

 old ; for it is so true, and its truth is so apparent, that it must 

 needs be old. For the reason that the manufacturer econo- 

 mizes his power of water or steam, or the trader his capital 

 by diminishing his credits, or the merchant his voyages by in- 

 creasing the speed of his vessels, the farmer should limit the 

 amount of land in cultivation as far as practicable. 



It is true, to an extent much beyond the common opinion, 

 that the cost of a crop per ton or bushel is diminished as the 

 aggregate per acre is increased ; that is to say, a bushel of 

 corn at twenty per acre costs more than a bushel at eighty. 

 The same observation is true of every product of the land. 

 The agriculture of Massachusetts from 1840 to 1850 was a 

 process of deterioration and exhaustion. 



It was altogether a retrograde movement, and the lessening 

 crop per acre, year by year, was so serious as to threaten the 

 existence of the interest. It is hoped that the present decen- 

 nial period will show a better result. In the year 1850 we 

 cultivated two million one hundred and thirty-three thousand four 

 hundred and thirty-six acres ; and allowing one acre for twen- 

 ty bushels of wheat, for fifteen bushels of rye, for sixty bushels 

 of corn, for forty bushels of oats, for one hundred and fifty 

 bushels of potatoes, for thirty bushels of barley, for one and 

 a half tons of hay, for one hundred dollars' worth of orchard 

 products, for two hundred dollars' worth of garden products, 

 and seven acres for the pasturage of every horse, five for every 

 ox, four for every cow, two acres each for young cattle, one 

 acre each for sheep, and allowing liberally for other crops and 



