SYNOPSIS OF ADDRESS 



DELIVERED BY 



¥. g. GfOI(f>, fe, 



Of West Cornwall, Conn., Secretary of the Connecticut State Board of Agriculture. 



My subject will be that so often discussed, "Does farming pay ? does it 

 pay in New England? does it pay in Massachusetts?" I shall attempt to 

 prove that it pays in a sure and fair money reward as compared with the other 

 great departments of industry, manufactures, commerce and mining, taking 

 into account the wear and tear of mind and body, and the risks to life which 

 are incurred, and the chances of success which diminish in direct ratio with the 

 prize to be won. Money is only one object of value to be sought after. The 

 farmer enjoys opportunities of study and thought. The health of the farmer 

 and his family should be the best ; if it is not it is his own fault. The enjoy- 

 ment of a comfortable home, with faintly and friends, especially belongs to 

 the farmer. Position favorable for development of a high moral character. 

 Enjoys respectability, i. e., the esteem of his fellow men. Conscious inde- 

 pendence of mind, working with God and for God. Agriculture is in a transi- 

 tion stage, through which manufactures have passed. All agriculture is not 

 profitable. How is it to be made to pay better? By patient industry, true 

 economy, intelligent labor, more skill, more brain work : education for the 

 farm, not off from it, as too often it has hitherto been. There are, according 

 to last census, 114,771 milch cows in Massachusetts, of which Berkshire county 

 has 15,334. These do not embrace single ccws not kept on farms, and 1-18 

 may be added for these, making over 121,000 in Massachusetts. Estimate 

 their average produce at $60, and we have $7,260,000. Improve their product 

 ten per cent, either in quantity or quality and we will add $726,000 to the re- 

 ceipts of the farmers of the state. I shall conclude by illustrating the inter- 

 dependence of the great departments of industry, — agriculture, manufactures, 

 and commerce, as shown in an extract from Father Hyacinthe : 



"The justice which man owes the earth is Agriculture, industry, com- 

 merce. Agriculture holds the foremost place. The earth lies in a lethargic 

 slumber till it is roused by the stout arm of the laborer. It imbibes the sweat 

 of man's brow, and becomes intoxicated with those bitter and sacred drops ; it 



