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and in every department shows judgment, fine stock and fair 

 crops. 



Messrs. S. own and cultivate a market farm ; as good examples 

 as this county furnishes of industry, order, neatness and success. 

 Farm small, but thoroughly worked and profitable ; probably more 

 profitable than it would be if twice as large. 



We might multiply such extracts from our notes. There are 

 hundreds of similar farms and farmers in the county. We have 

 learned to hold in high respect the men who reflect so much credit 

 on this noble vocation, and show that on our soil persevering in- 

 dustry, guided by intelligence, can produce results that compare 

 favorably with those of any part of the Commonwealth. We have 

 a much higher opinion of the farms and of the skill and industry 

 of the farmers in Needham, Dover, Medfield, Medway, Franklin, 

 and other towns in that section of the county, than we had before. 

 We saw many farms where the management would do credit to 

 any part of the country ; and where the example set is doing a 

 silent yet certain work in promoting improvements that add much 

 yearly to the productiveness of the farms. But we are prompted 

 to add that the improvements already made should be regarded as 

 incentives to greater efforts. The much that is done is by no 

 means the measure of what may be done. Especially in the rais- 

 ing of stock, this part of the county has uncommon facilities, 

 which do not seem to be fully improved. Its good pastures and 

 mowings might be made to increase the extent of its grain fields. 

 We are scarcely satisfied with what we so much admire, so im- 

 pressed are we with the conviction that even better things are 

 within the reach of these farmers. On the other hand, we see 

 many instances of poor farming, poor in view of the progress of 

 mankind in other pursuits. In manufactures and the mechanic 

 arts, men would soon fail if they exhibited the same indifference 

 to fundamental principles and scientific processes, which character- 

 ize some of the cultivators of the soil, who walk in the old paths 

 without so much as an inquiry whether there are new and better, 

 who remain stationary or are retrograding amid the general marvels 

 of the age. 



The best evidences of progressive improvement among the 

 formers of our county are, first, an almost every where expressed 

 desire for it and faith that it may be attained. Few are found 

 who do not believe in the necessity and the practicability of mak- 

 ing their land more productive Avith the same amount of labor ; 

 who do not endeavor to apply, more or less, the principles and the 

 results of science to the cultivation of the soil ; who are not will- 

 ing to be instructed and to profit by the successful efforts of others. 

 To foster this spirit is one of the chief aims of our Society. 



Second. The superior information exhibited by practical farm- 

 ers, on topics connected with their business. This Committee 

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