3^ 



cedence in her other activities. Massachusetts farming is not to-day in a normal 

 or permanent condition. Western competition has ruined our markets so far as 

 the old fashioned staples go, and our only chance is in a careful attention to little 

 things, such an exercise of tact and skill as shall impart to our products a pecu- 

 liar local quality that cannot be imitated. France is a good example. Frenchmen 

 were long since driven oat of the ordinary markets by the tremendous competi- 

 tion of England, but France has now leanied how to pile up enormous wealth by 

 the pi'odiiction of what the rest of the world wo\ild call nick-nacks. Our Berk- 

 shire pasture lands. Prof. Frost considers (piite unrivaled, and we ought therefore 

 to produce an altogether distinct and peculiar line of dairy products, imparting to 

 them special desirable qualities until even the name comes to be worth something, 

 so that we can sell our Berkshire cheese at the rate of ten cents for the cheese 

 and five for the Berkshire. He put in a strong plea' for the Agricultural college, 

 urging farmers to be patient with its slow, and, as some of them might think, 

 impractical experiments ; for it is largely upon the result of those very experi- 

 ments that the future of Massachusetts agriculture is to depend. 



A part of each session was occupied with general discussions Votes were 

 passed thanking the speakers for their addresses, and the Farmers' Chib and citi- 

 zens of Lee for hospitable entertainment. 



SECOND INSTITUTE. 



The second Institute of the society was held in the Congregational chiirch in 

 Sheffield, on Wednesday, September od, and called together some two hundred 

 and fifty or more persons, including a fair proportion of ladies. After a few ap- 

 propi'iate remarks by the President, M. I, Wheeler stated the object of the State 

 Board in requiring the holding of Institutes. The jirincipal address during the 

 morning session was by T. S. Gold of Cornwall, Ct., Secretary of the Connecti- 

 cut State Board of Agriculture. 



Abstract of T. S. Gold's Remarks on Fruit Culture: 



It may seem presumptuous, said Mr. Gold, in view of the superabund- 

 ance of the fruit crop of last year, to come before the Farmers' Institute to 

 talk about the importance of fruit culture. So far from this being the 

 case, however, it is aU the more imjDortant to give careful attention to the 

 question at this time ; for last year there was a good deal of talk among 

 the farmers about there being too many orchards, the result of which is 

 seen this year in a certain amount of neglect and indifference. The prudent 

 man who looks ahead, and is uninfluenced by such remarks and conduct of 

 his neighbors, will be the gainer and reap the harvest. The princii^al object 

 of every farmer in the matter of fruit culture should be to supply his own table 

 during the entire year with every kind of fruit. Our soil and climate ai-e well 

 adapted to doing this, and we have enough knowledge of the necessary conditions 

 to enable us to accomplish it with a fair degi-ee of success. Most farmers do have 

 a sujjply of fruit for their families for perhaps six mouths, l>ut very few make a 

 point of having and keeping enough to last through the whole year. Setting aside 

 pecuniary considerations entirely, it is stiU worth while to do this. The farmer 

 enjoys an advantage not shared by those who follow any other pursuit. What- 

 ever his chances or failures to make sales of his surplus, he can always, if be 



