92 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [March, 



ation is understood to be, first ; the perfect draining of the land, 

 so that no superfluous moisture remains at the roots of the 

 plant, second ; the fine tilth and division of the soil, by which 

 the roots of the plants are enabled to fix and expand themselves: 

 third ; the access of the air and light and warmth to the soils, 

 by which simple process even the coldest and most gravelly 

 subsoil becomes enriched and cabable of sustaining and nour- 

 ishing a healthy vegetation. The bringing up of the subsoil, 

 and the intermixing of it with the surface mould, must be done 

 gradually and not in too large quantities at once. These im- 

 provements are placed beyond all doubt. The experiments 

 have been made for a course of years in the most conclusive 

 and satisfactoiy manner. The most incredulous are convinced. 

 Examinations have been made before committees of both houses 

 of Parliament, and leave not a doubt on the subject.* 



Agricultural Improvements. — There is no circumstance in 

 the condition of Scotland or in that of Massachusetts, which 

 would not render the same system applicable to us. Fifty 

 bushels of wheat to an acre, weighing 62 and 64 lbs. to the 

 bushel, are not uncommon under this system of cultivation. 

 The proceeds of the land early defray the expenditure made in 

 its improvement. The crop of wheat is as important to us as 

 it is to any country. We have only to see our interest in its 

 true light. We want only the courage to invest capital judi- 

 ciously in agricultural improvements. As yet this has scarcely 

 been done at all ; but in the few cases where it has been done, 

 even to a small extent, — the returns will be admitted to have 

 proved as productive as in any investment whatever. The 

 day is not distant, we express the strong hope, when Massachu- 

 setts will understand her duty and her interest ; and for bread, 

 the great and first necessary of life, will not rest satisfied under 

 a precarious and exhausting dependence upon a foreign supply. 

 The great objection likely to be made to the cultivation here 

 proposed, is in the labor and expense required to render our 

 lands thus productive. This objection may arise from timi- 



* Appendix L. 



