THE PROGRESS OF NEW ENGLAND AGRICULTURE DURING THE LAST THIRTY YEARS. BY JOSEPH B. WALKER. Thirty years ago a visitor to the agricultural towns of New England was likely, and in some sections quite sure, to find in progress a rapid diminution of population, accompanied by what was still more to be regretted, a deterioration of its quality. He was also quite certain to discover a lessened productiveness of the soil; barns once too small to house the crops which they were built to shelter, of capacities far beyond existing requirements; herds and flocks of diminished numbers, and not unfrequently absent altogether; much good land not farmed at all, and very little in such a manner as to secure maximum crops; the large streams shrunk in volume by the removal of heavy forests, and brooks formerly perennial absent for the greater part of the year; the timber supply fearfully lessened, and the forest area much increased; school districts needing consolidation partly because the natural increase of population had largely failed; the price of labor enhanced by its scarcity, and farming rendered unattractive by the decaying strength and rude ways of most who pursued it. In short, agriculture had not kept itself abreast the time. "The farming? the farming?" said Horace Greeley, in 1872, to a friend sitting beside him in a New Hampshire railroad car, and observing the fields through which they were passing, "What do I think of the farming? Where? I see no farming." The sting of the great journalist's remark was in the truth of it. About 1860, thoughtful farmers of New England saw the low condition of its agriculture, and in alarm and despondency exclaimed, "What shall we do to be saved?" And to these came a response, as clear as a clarion at early dawn, "Repent of your agricultural sins and bring forth fruits meet for repentance." It was the voice of God, and those who have since heeded it have been saved from the ruin which indolence and stupidity always engender. Not far from this time, New England took a new departure in farming. Then some a little earlier and some a little later new forces appeared, forces of great and lasting power, which, for convenience, may be designated intellectual and physical. To some of these attention is called, not only as the causes of new prosperity, but, taken in the order of their manifestations, as marks in the progress of a new agricultural development. Among the first of these, perhaps the very first, in importance if not in time, was the advent of— 1. The new colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts. In 1862, without their asking for or even desiring them, the Congress of the United States gave to each loyal State and territory the foundation of a college of agriculture and the mechanic arts. The country needed them but was not then ready to receive them. They were obliged, therefore, to struggle on into active being as best they could. There were no agricultural professors prepared to man them and direct their work. There were no text-books for the use of their students. well-defined conception on the part of any one of the precise products these were expected to yield. The two necessities first mentioned have been measurably met. The last, as yet but imperfectly determined, is assuming a shape more and more definite year by year. There was no These colleges are less than twenty-five years old. It is yet too early to forecast their future. All things considered, they may be said to have accomplished as much as their friends could have reasonably anticipated. They are furnishing a good general and agricultural education to such as resort to them, at a very reasonable expense. 2. The boards of agriculture. In most or all of the New England States, boards of agriculture have been organized. These have rendered important service to the cause which they were intended to aid by diffusing among the farmers important agricultural information, mainly by means of meetings for the discussion of farm topics, the results of which have been annually published as reports of the several boards. Many of these volumes are very valuable contributions to the agricultural literature of the country. Some are worthy of places beside the reports of the Royal Agricultural Society. 3. The Patrons of Husbandry. A more recent organization than either of the foregoing has found a home in New England, and is proving efficient in the intellectual improvement of the farmer, the value of which is asserted upon less personal knowledge, but in full confidence. Allusion is to State Granges of the Patrons of Husbandry. These are the institutions of the farmers, by the farmers, for the farmers. They have been established in various sections of New England for a dozen or fifteen years. One of their important aims is the promotion of the social culture of their members. The farmers have never been a gregarious class. They have lived mostly in sparsely located families, mingling but little even with each other. Too many of them rarely go from home except it be to meeting and to mill. They have lacked, consequently, the stimulus of association with others of a like calling. They have realized less than any other class the power of combination or the weakness of isolation. The Grange is teaching them these, and they are learning their united strength. Large numbers of the members of the State Legislatures — in some a majority — are farmers. These, if so disposed, could dictate the legislation of their respective States. But, without organization, they have not a tithe of the power possessed by the less numerous bodies of representatives of other industries. That the life of this organization may be vigorous there is reason to anticipate. That it will prove a power for good there seems to be little reason to doubt. 4. Agricultural fairs. Still another power demands recognition, which may properly enough be called intellectual, inasmuch as it affords object lessons of great value to great numbers. Reference is to the agricultural fairs held all over |