90 



of labor directed by skill and intelligence, and certain to pay the just 

 demands upon it in that which is better than specie, plenty of food 

 and clothing, domestic comfort, health, and peace of mind. It is a 

 gratifying fact, in which I am confirmed by my own as well as the 

 observation of others, that more land has been cultivated, and more 

 unproductive land has been drained and redeemed within the last 

 year, in the county, than has been done for many previous years. 

 The facts detailed in this report will demonstrate that capital and 

 labor may be applied to agriculture in Essex County with a perfect 

 security, under intelligent and skilful management, of an ample return. 

 It is not to be concealed, however, that agriculture, to be successful, 

 requires application, labor, science, experience, skill ; and, accord- 

 ing to the objects aimed at, and the measure of profit to be expected 

 from it, pecuniary capital. It is said that any man may be a farmer. 

 Success in agricultural pursuits is just as certain, but it is no more 

 so, than it is in commerce and manufactures ; and upon no other 

 conditions. 



The silk culture may be made matter of most profitable attention 

 in Essex. I say this with strong confidence, from some actual ex- 

 periments detailed to me In the cultivation and management of the 

 Morus muhicaulis, the results of which may be said almost to guar- 

 antee success, as far as this depends on ihat invaluable plant. These 

 results I design fully to detail in the report, which will follow this. 

 Essex has taken the lead in the manufacture of beet sugar in America ; 

 and I have strong reason to hope that it may be followed up to great 

 advantage ; and on this matter I shall give the information, which has 

 been recently received, and promises to be of great public advantage. 



The main hindrances to the progress of Essex agriculture are either 

 the want of capital of those who pursue it exclusively, or in other 

 cases, that it is merely a secondary object, subsidiary to something else. 

 Every farmer seems disposed to boast with how little labor he gets 

 along. My belief is, and it is confirmed by the facts stated in 

 this report, that much more labor, even at the present high prices, 

 might be profitably applied ; or else, indeed, none can be profitably 

 applied. Hay and oats are deemed the best crops, for the simple 

 reason that they are managed with less labor than other crops ; and 

 at the same time are always sure of a cash sale. Oats are an ex- 



