A.IDIDK.ESS. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Essex Agricul- 

 tural Society : — 



111 choosing me to deliver the aiiiuial address before this 

 Society, you have selected one who though wholly unused to 

 public speaking, is not unfamiliar with practical farming ; 

 one who has been accustomed from his youth to guide the 

 plough, to handle the hoe, the spade, and the pruning-knife, 

 and can not only say, as men of other professions are apt to 

 on occasions like this, "I lived on a farm when a boy" — but 

 more — I have remained, and intend to die upon one. 



I have chosen for ray subject "Suggestive Hints," and it 

 will perhaps be excusable if I indulge in a few friendly criti- 

 cisms on the general management of farms in this vicinity, 

 at the present time. 



In the first place, every former, if he has not already done 

 so, should sit down carefully and candidly to consider to 

 what crop, or crops, his farm is best adapted; in relation to 

 its iiearness to, or distance from a market ; the quality of the 

 soil, whether heavy or light, 'svliether best adapted to grass, 

 and the raising of stock, and the production of milk — or the 

 growing of early vegetables and small fruits. He might with 

 profit consult his more experienced neighbors in regard to it, 

 .and after being fully persuaded what course to pursue, let 

 him stick to it ; not changing from one crop or system to 

 another, but making a specialty of some particular branch of 

 husbandry, he will in the long run succeed in any, provided 

 he combine with it a sufficient amount of skill, prudence and 

 industry. Perhaps there is no one thing in which farmers as 



