Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-12-23
Agrmnltural,
Meeting of :he Massachusetts
State Board Of Horticulture.

Years Progress OF American Agriculture.
that he had pre- Pared Tor the purpose OF
awakening an interest in the coming
Centennial Celebration ut Philadelphia.
lie quoted from Daniel Webster when he
said the various branches followed by
men. are like pillars standing in eluS.
ter. the largest in the centre. and that
largest is agriculture" Our fathers, the
early celonisls. had many difficulties in
the way OF progress in agriculture. They
had the forests 10 clean. and wild beasts
10 destroy.
The first imporsIions OF cattle were
made with but little regard 10 quality.
The common stock oil the country has
been brought IRON various sources. At
the time Of the early impOrtatiOns. the
stock of the Old countries had not been
improved. There was nothing very
choice 10 select lrom. The average
weight OF beef animals sold in the Smith
field market in those days was but SO
pounds. while 500 pounds has been the
average OF the improved animals sold
since that time Formerly the cattle
were obliged to pick up living in win
ter from grass on the salt marshes, from
husks OF corn. straw OF grain aud browse.
They had to browse for their lives and
often failed al that. Many died every
wiutcr from the severity OF The climate.
Cows were not generally housed or
mixed in winter. |, WAS considered by
many farmers bad practice. It would
make them tender.
Ia some sections OF the country il came
TO be custom TO MAKE The years stock
OF shoes tor the negrUes from the hides
OF the animals that s,aIves during win
ter; and a story is told OF planter Who
was lempted to discharge his overseer.
because he had not managed 10 have
enough cattle die in winter to supply this
demand.
Previous 10 the revolution no attempt
was made 10 save manure. Nor at that
time had the idea OF sowing grass seed
and raising hay As cultivated crop been
thought Of Red clover Sas introduced
into England. in 1888; white OF Dutch
clover in 100; timothy in 100. and
orchard grass 10 1904 perennial rye grass
in l777, at which time dates the com.
nencemeRt OF the cultivation OF The
grasses. With the Improvement Of grass
dates Tie Improvement of our cattle.
The early eoloniSts were poorly sup
pied with tools. Steel al that time Vas
unknown. aud after the process OF mas
ins i, was discovered il Was kept secret
in The hands OF few. The first ploWs
were Of wood. with pieces OF iron or
other metal nailed on the mould board.
They were very bar of draft, requiring
double the teams and doing 'ery poor
work. compared with lhuse of The pre-
sent day.
They were also costly. aud but few
were owned in town. Ii WAS not un.
usual Tor towns TO pay bounty 10 peg
sons who would Keep plough team.
The list OF other farming tools WAS also
very meSgre. Il Mas often the ease that
strong man could carry on his back all
the tools on iarm, except the plough
and harrow
From The Indians they learned TO grow
corn. The holes were dug in the ground
with u clam shell. although our people
soon made an improvement 10y using au
iron scoop iusIeaI. a step in advance
WAS u'de when spade MAS put IA The
hill, by which the crop WAS iuc. c.,,cd two
OF three fold.
Wheat Wa cultivated 10 a very limited
extent. i, blasted lhen rs nov. and Was
never very popular crop in New Eus
land Corn and potatoes were raised IN
preference 10 wheat. Before the revo.
. luton. very li,ile fruit was grown.
When apples came to be grown. it Vas
principally for cider making
1t Was not ill lS2O that the first horti
cultural society was organized Indeed.
it was an age Of poor tools. prOftlGss c.t-
Tie, aud few books. Before 1850. stages
even were unknown. aud the means Of
communication were very limited. The
policy Of the government of the mother
country Was TO make the colonies source
Of profit. Manufacturing was forbidden
as was also trade, except with EngIa
The early societies for promoting agri.
culture were rather city than country
societies. They were not composed OF
farmers. With them. theory and iuyes.
ugation would not 90 down. Old Gus.
toms and methods OF thought were bred
in tue blood. Common law was the guide
andthe rule, not principles, but practice
was what they believed in. The war
with Its various influences broke up this
state OF things. The farming interest
began TO improve In 1910 was held
the first agricultural exhibition in the
country. The Berkshire Society was or
gained in 1911. Improved patterns Of
plonghs came into use. although many
were afraid that the iron pioUghs would
poison the ground. The Improvement
of the plough has saved to the country,
ANNUALLY, millions and millions Of dollars
The better pulyerization OF the soil. The
Hghtness OF drought. the ease with
which weala md c-rns. a.o ,..,..aA -. ~