12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



Practically every question raised by the war points definitely, 

 in one way or another, to the dependence of one continent upon 

 another, of one country upon another, of one State upon an- 

 other; and while we can never expect to get entirely rid of 

 this dependency, we should get rid of it in so far as it affects 

 things common to the sections affected. In the readjustment of 

 things after this war this important question will be con- 

 sidered, as every waste and useless expenditure will be pre- 

 vented in so far as possible. To this end the tax imposed by 

 transporting produce or merchandise from one section where 

 it is produced to other sections where it might be produced 

 should be cut down in so far as economic conditions war- 

 rant. New England has probably been able in the past to 

 buy her corn as cheaply as she could raise it, even paying 

 the transportation charges. It is questionable whether or not 

 she can do so in the future unless cheaper freight rates are 

 made. One of the principal factors in the production of corn 

 in Massachusetts has been the uncertainty of ripening the crop. 



There can be little doubt that if our farmers can produce 

 corn as cheaply as they can buy it they would certainly grow it 

 themselves. We need early maturing varieties now more than 

 ever, and, so far as I can find, not one of the six New England 

 experiment stations is doing a bit of work toward producing an 

 early ripening corn. Results which have been secured so far 

 are largely from some interested persons who have made a 

 hobby of corn breeding. The farmers of Massachusetts and 

 New England should demand at once that breeding work in 

 corn be taken up by the experiment stations, and this work 

 continued until we have plenty of satisfactory varieties which 

 are practically sure of ripening. At the coming corn show of 

 the Board in Worcester a prize is offered for a ninety-day 

 maturing strain. It is hoped that this may bring out some- 

 thing new. 



Grain Growing in INIassachusetts. 

 Our State in its early history produced practically all of its 

 grain, but later could not compete with the great grain-growing 

 States. It would seem that now, in order to supply a larger 

 per cent of our food, grain growing should be revived in certain 

 areas. The lack of adequate tools and machinery, and of mills 



