1840.] SENATE— No. 36. 95 



means of accomplishing it. At that time the work was in 

 progress. It has since been completed, and I shall subjoin in 

 the appendix a detailed statement of its course and accomplish- 

 ment.* It cannot fail to be read with great interest and in- 

 struction, as showing what great obstacles spirit and persever- 

 ance can overcome ; and with what confidence, under the guid- 

 ance of sound judgment, even a comparatively large amount of 

 capital may be applied to agricultural improvements. 



I am, in conclusion, satisfied, that Massachusetts is capable of 

 producing her own bread ; and of producing it to advantage. I 

 do not say that this can be done under our present imperfect 

 and stinted modes of cultivation. I do not pretend that it is to 

 be accomplished without labor, and capital, and time, and skill. 



Agricultural improvements usually proceed at a slow pace ; 

 and farmers are proverbially among the slowest in the commu- 

 nity to change their habits or practices. I do not look forward 

 to wheat being raised among us beyond our own domestic 

 wants, although, to those, who wait a quarter of a century, 

 such a fact may not be surprising. I do not consider the wheat 

 plant, as upon the whole, in all its uses and results, to be placed 

 before Indian corn. But, under good and liberal cultivation, it 

 will be found to succeed as often as most crops. Its great value 

 is not a matter to be questioned ; and it ought to have its place 

 in a systematic rotation of crops. Indian corn, indeed, has 

 proved an excellent crop to precede wheat ; and where an early 

 kind is cultivated, it may be ripened and harvested, so as to 

 afl"ord an early sowing of a wheat crop, where it is desired to 

 cultivate a winter variety. The advantage of Indian corn as 

 preceding wheat, lies to a considerable extent in the cleanness 

 of its cultivation, as there are few crops grown among us, where 

 in general the weeds are more thoroughly subdued, than in a 

 well cultivated field of Indian corn. 



But the wheat crop may be made a safe and most valuable 

 crop among us. With the exception of those influences and 

 dangers, which no human sagacity or power can control, there 



' Ap()endix M 



