manufacturer, employ hired capital in his business, and 

 increase his profits thereby. 



Yet, after all, does farming in Essex County pay ? It 

 is useless to preach the ennobling influence of the farm 

 upon the human cliaracter, the independence of the 

 farmer, or to cite tlie examples of Cincinnatus. Wash- 

 ington, Jefferson, Webster, and others to stimulate our 

 young men, unless it can be shown that farming in this 

 county pays ; for no enterprising New England boy will 

 be contented in a business that does not pay. 



I need only to refer to the returns of the income tax 

 to find instances where men by firming alone, have in 

 this county returned annual incomes amonnting to from 

 three to five thousand dollars, enough to buy a good 

 farm, with fair buildings. I could name an Essex Coun- 

 ty farm, of fifty acres, valued at ten thousand dollars, 

 the gross products of which were enough in one year to 

 pay for it. It was an unusual occurrence, but such was 

 the fact for that year. Drive in any direction through 

 the length or breadth of the county, and notice the 

 comfortable homes, the thrifty appearance of the farms, 

 and the contented looks of the occupants. Is the money 

 market tight ? they know it not ; is gold up or down ? 

 it affects them not at all. Do the banks refuse to dis- 

 count ? they care not, so long as they have one of their 

 own in the barn yard, or cellar, that never refuses. Do 

 men lie awake nights, tossing upon restless pillows, won- 

 dering wherewith the note, falling due on the morrow,, 

 shall be paid ? the farmer is not of them. While ninety- 

 six of every hundred who enter mercantile pursuits be- 

 come bankrupt, the farmer scarce ever does. I have 

 yet to learn of the second instance. It is true there are 

 many causes of discouragement to the farmer, some of 



