X BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



almost all sections, being a total failure in many places. 

 Peaches were a light crop as a rule, but brought good prices. 

 Cranberries were a good though not an unusually heavy 

 crop. Other fruits and berries generally did well. The 

 year was, however, hardly a successful one for most of our 

 horticulturists. 



There is a disposition on the part of some to mourn for 

 the passing of the so-called old New England farmer. The 

 ideal which is in the minds of those who take this view of 

 the situation is that of the man on a small farm, or on a large 

 one partially worked, who kept but a small number of ani- 

 mals, grew but few crops, and did all of his work with the 

 assistance of his family and one man, with at most a little 

 outside help at haying time. This sort of farmer was a 

 common sight fifty years ago, and it is true that he is pass- 

 ing from the face of the earth, l)ut there is nothing to mourn 

 for in this fact. He is giving way to the new New England 

 farmer, — the man who sees that there is a business in agri- 

 cultm'e ; who follows modern methods ; adds to the ancestral 

 acres by purchase, or, where this is impossible, doubles or 

 trebles tlicir productiveness ; employs the necessary labor 

 to carry on his increased operations ; invests in the best of 

 modern farm machinery, including the gasolene engine or 

 steam or electric power plant ; and makes a sufficient profit 

 on each man and machine employed to repay him for the 

 oversight he exercises and the capital invested. Such a 

 man is perhaps not typical of anything except American 

 brains, push and energy, but he is what is, after all, more 

 im})ortant than mere idealism, — a success in his chosen 

 calling. 



Changes in the Board. 



The Board lost one of its most valued members by death 

 during the year, Henry S. Perham, delegate from the 

 Middlesex North Agricultural Society, passing away in 

 Florida, where he had gone in the hope of recruiting his 

 failing health. George W. Trull of Tewksbury was elected 

 to fill the vacancy. Alfred Akerman, M.F., State Forester, 

 resigned during the year, and his place was filled by the 

 appointment of Prof. Frank Wm. Rane, of the New Hamp- 

 shire Colleo^e of Apiculture and Mechanic Arts. 



