19 



different localities is stated to be breed ; care and feed are 

 also important causes of difference in value ; and the distance 

 from market is another consideration affectinij: value. 



In the State Census for 1885 we find the population given 

 as 1,942,141, and the total number of persons engaged in 

 agriculture, including farm owners and hired farm laborers, 

 male and female, was 77,661, these being classified as fol- 

 lows : farmers, 36,526 ; farjn laborers, 35,545 ; other per- 

 sons not included in these two classifications, 5,590. In the 

 " Album" we find that in Massachusetts 9 per cent, of the 

 population are engaged in agriculture, or about 175,000, 

 which evidently includes all the members of the family. 

 The average for the United States is 44 per cent. The only 

 States and territories whose percentages are below 20 are 

 Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with 9 ; Nevada, 13 ; Colo- 

 rado, 13 ; Arizona, 15 ; New Jersey, 15 ; Connecticut, 18 ; 

 and Wyoming, 18. Speaking of the small percentages in 

 several of the States, the statistician of the Department of 

 Agriculture says that it may be fairly assumed that this small 

 percentage of firm w^orkers produce half the supplies required 

 in their States, and that 25 to 30 per cent, of all could feed 

 liberally the entire population of the country. 



We will simply add, in closing, that Massachusetts has no 

 call to be ashamed of the position she holds ; and that while 

 to her farmers it seems as if there was little inducement to 

 cultivate their lands, yet, Avhen everything is taken into 

 account, the Massachusetts farmer is quite as well ofi" on the 

 average as are those engaged in like pursuits in other States. 



