®l)c ^Dtnmonrucaltl) of iilassacliuscto. 



THE FIFTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL EEPORT 



SECRETARY 



State Board op Ageicultuee. 



To the Senate and Rouse of Representatives of the Commonwealth 

 of Massachusetts. 



During the past year there has been a remarkable devel- 

 opment in relation to agricultnre in the New England States, 

 atfecting that of Massachusetts probably more immediately 

 and to a greater degree than that of the other States because 

 of her superior markets and railroad facilities. I refer to 

 the boom in agriculture and agricultural property in ISTew 

 England which has been fostered by the popular magazines 

 and periodicals, and which has also engaged the attention of 

 business men and capitalists. With the taking up of the 

 free lands in the west, and the consequent cutting oif of the 

 supply of cheap lands in that part of the country, the atten- 

 tion of the public has been turned toward the east, and the 

 lesson has been impressed upon it that here in ISTew England, 

 with, the finest and most accessible markets in the country, 

 there are greater opportunities for investment in agricultural 

 property and for profitable de^'elopment of farming opera- 

 tions than in the more newly settled regions. This has led 

 to a great many inquiries as to farm property, to a close study 

 of scientific farm methods, with a view to possible profitable 

 operations, all of which has caused a general hardening in 

 values of farm property. What the ultimate result will be 



