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community struggling for existence, and have the means of doing 

 something to gratify a refined taste, and to improve the looks as 

 well as the fruitfulness of our county. And what objects are more 

 beautiful than the shrubbery that adorns our dwellings, or than 

 the beeches, maples, elms and evergreens that line the highways. 

 Who does not greet with satisfaction a village, the nakedness of 

 which is relieved by these permanent memorials of public spirit ? 

 And Avho has a better right to be considered a public benefactor 

 than the man who provides for the comfort and health of future 

 generations ? 



Almost every fai-mer planted a little of the Chinese sugar cane 

 last spring ; some from curiosity, others with a view to fodder, 

 and a few, perhaps, in the hope of supplying themselves with 

 home-made molasses. Every where the cane grcAv and flourished. 

 There is a diversity of opinion respecting its value as fodder, some 

 approving it, but the majority of those who have conversed with 

 us do not consider it equal to sweet corn fodder. It is less sweet 

 and juicy, the cattle do not eat it so readily, and waste more of it. 

 The buts are fibrous and hard. At the fair, several specimens of 

 good sirup were exhibited, a detailed account of which will proba- 

 bly be furnished by another committee. We have heard of no 

 extensive operations in this county. In Middlesex, Mr. Hyde of 

 Newton has entered largely into the manufacture of sirup, and is 

 not without hope that he may overcome the difficulties hitherto 

 experienced in causing it to grain. The public are already 

 familiar with the results of his enterprise through the daily papers. 

 We hope that his success Avill be equal to his enterprise, and that 

 he Avill have the honor of introducing a new and profitable branch 

 of business. 



During the past season mowing machines have been somewhat 

 more used than the year before. In several towns in our county, 

 however, there is not one. Although every advantage claimed 

 for the mowing machine may be admitted, yet the farmer hesi- 

 tates, perhaps wisely, before he invests his money in its purchase. 

 He acknowledges the inferiority of the scythe, but he knows what 

 he can do with it. He knows how to repair it. He knows what 

 is the average cost of cutting an acre of grass. He remembers 

 that the first cost of the mowing machine is large ; that it is com- 

 plicated and liable to get out of order ; that it may occasion 

 diminished or irregular employment of men hired for the season 

 or the year ; that there are mornings and odd times when they 

 might do some mowing to advantage. He says his farm is small, 

 the land uneven ; that it has rocks and orchards, and will scarcely 

 pay for the use of the machine. It is right to take these things 

 into consideration. But it should not be forgotten that one ma- 



