AGRICULTURE IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



BY WARREN A. DURANT, OF LAWRENCE. 



When we consider the number of societies that have 

 been formed in this Commonwealth by the tillers of the 

 soil for mutual encouragement and improvement, the va- 

 riety and large circulation of periodicals devoted to their 

 interests, the machines and implements which the inven- 

 tive genius of the day is j^roducing to lighten their la- 

 bors, the superiority of modern farm buildings, the new 

 fruits and vegetables which are yearly offered to the 

 public, and improvement in all kinds of stock, it is nat- 

 ural to infer that our agriculture is progressing rapidly, 

 for are not all these things sure indications of a deeper 

 interest, more careful study, and a higher success ? 



It is true there has been a great advance in the w^ays 

 and means in farm management, that never before did 

 farmers manifest so strong a desire for thorough, accu- 

 rate knowledge, and never were so many educated men 

 devoting their time and talents to its elevation; but 

 amid these cheering signs of progress are others of a 

 different character, which give another view to the sub- 

 ject. Ride about any county, traverse the length and 

 breadth of the State, and the traveller may go a long 



