44 ON CIDER. 



in consequence of tliis change, the farmer is at once to lose all 

 benefit of this labor, and pay money in the purchase of the very 

 articles which it formerly produced, it is obvious that it must 

 tend to impoverish him. The increase of manufactories has al- 

 ready greatly improved his market. If to this he will add the 

 application of the surplus industry of his liousehold to some 

 profitable pursuit, the interest which he represents will have 

 nothing to fear from the rivalry of any others. 



The cultivation of silk, encouraged as it is by the best prac- 

 tical farmers, and by the legislature, it would seem must be such 

 a pursuit. Those who have not attended to this subject may 

 a[)prehend that there are many difficulties in the operations. 

 But they will find on examination that those of carding, spin- 

 ning and weaving, as formerly conducted, required at least as 

 much skill and perhaps more experience and instruction. It 

 may be added that the labor is far lighter. That silk may be 

 profitably produced in this Commonwealth seems to be placed 

 beyond doubt. Those Vvho are earliest to engage in it will be 

 the first to reap its benefits. And it adds much force to its re- 

 commendation that it seems suited to supply the place of other 

 objects, the labors on which have been superseded. 



N. W. HAZEN, for the Committee. 



No. V. O N C 1 D E R . 



The Committee on Cider, consisting of Hector Coffin, John 

 Adams, Thomas Parley, Jesse Putnam and William Thurlow, 

 beg leave to Report — 



That they have, most of them, assembled after many weary 

 miles of travel, without finding a single glass of cider awaiting 

 them to quench their parching thirst, or exhilarate their droop- 

 ing spirits. Filled with the milk of human kindness themselves, 

 toward every mem.ber of the laborious, meritorious, and honora- 

 ble society of agriculturists, without whose efforts the general 

 population of the world would neither be able to eat good bread 

 nor drink good cider, they accordingly exceedingly regret this 

 society's privation oithis luxury on this memorable day. 



