that have been grown in the State, averaging, under good management, more than $100 per acre, often, indeed, amounting to much more than that, and exhausting the soil less than any other.

Uses. The fibre of the hop resembles that of hemp, and a strong, white cloth is manufactured from it, after being long steeped in water. The root, stem and leaf may be used for tanning leather, in the same manner as oak bark, sumac, &c. Hops are also extensively used as medicines, having narcotic, tonic, and diuretic properties of great value. They are often used as a sedative. The lupuline, a fine yellow powder already mentioned, contains, in 120 grains, 5 grains of tannin, 10 of extractive, 11 of bitter principle, 12 of wax, 36 of resin, and 46 of lignin. All the astringency, as well as the aroma and the bitterness, of hops, is found in the lupuline, which may be easily separated from the strobiles by sifting; and as it weighs but a sixth or eighth part of the whole, and occupies but a small part of its bulk, it may be readily transported. Whether these principles could be preserved in all their strength for any length of time, when separated from the strobiles and packed in tin cases, I do not know; but it is certainly worthy of careful experiment, since, if they could, much of the labor and expense of transporting hops might be avoided.

But by far the largest use of hops is for the preservation of various malt liquors from fermentation, and to impart to them a bitter taste. Many other plants are, or may be, used for the same purpose, but they are all thought to be inferior to the hop. From forty to fifty thousand acres of hops are cultivated in England every year, although the product is subject to a tax which, in 1844, amounted in the aggregate to £256,240 15s. 2 d., or about $1,281,200, on 44,5131 acres. The malt charged with duty in the same year amounted to no less than 37,187,186 bushels, returning a duty of £5,027,061.

One object of the circular given above was, to obtain some information as to the general condition of the agriculture of the Commonwealth. As might be expected, it differs very much in different localities. In some sections all the farmers derive their entire support from the farm; in others they depend, in

Gen

some measure, on other occupations for a subsistence. erally speaking, the western part of the State, including the counties of Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden, is more strictly agricultural than any of the eastern counties, where comparatively few devote themselves exclusively to the cultivation of the soil. In Barnstable county, which, with the exception of Suffolk and the island counties, probably contains a smaller number of farmers in proportion to its population than any other county in the State, even those who have farms very frequently prefer to plough such furrows as need no harrowing, and give much time to other pursuits; and in other eastern counties the business of shoemaking is carried on to a considerable extent, even in the farming towns, the summer farmer becoming a shoemaker in winter. Hence, in many towns of, eastern Massachusetts, there is but little of the real farming spirit the spirit of the profession; while in the western parts of the Commonwealth it is found in great strength. Comparing eastern and western Massachusetts with each other, we find that in the latter, in most places, the number of farmers has slightly increased, or at least not materially changed; while in the former the manufacturing population is larger, and the number of those who derive their entire support from the farm is comparatively small, and in many cases the aggregate number of farmers has actually decreased. Yet, on the whole, the agriculture of the State was probably never in a more flourishing condition than it is at the present day. Even those towns which return a decrease in the number of farmers frequently show an increase of agricultural products.

"The attention of persons in other pursuits has been directed to agriculture more from pleasure than profit, and the land generally is more and better cultivated," says an intelligent farmer of Essex county. But a report from Barnstable county states that none of the farmers derive their entire support from the farm, "as they are generally interested in vessels, salt-works, or some other auxiliary employment for support than the farm. But there has been an increase in agricultural products during the last ten years. Less land is cultivated, yet a better and more thorough culture prevails. While the potato and rye crops have diminished, corn and hay have in

creased. The hay crop, we may safely estimate, has been doubled in fifteen years, if not in ten, as some estimate. Swamp lands have been reclaimed, and uplands by cultivation and manure, have been converted into productive grass land." In Middlesex, a farmer writes: "Three-fourths of our farmers live by farming alone. The number has not increased, but most of the old farmers are improving in their modes of husbandry."

A farmer of Worcester county says: "The large farms have been cut up into smaller ones. The population has increased, the products of the land have increased, the number of cows and horses has increased; but the number of sheep and oxen has decreased."

The prices of all the products of the farm have risen so much within a few years as to induce many to turn their attention in this direction; and though the wages of the laborers, who must be employed, have increased somewhat in proportion, it is yet true that, with good management, farming will pay as high a percentage on money invested in it as any other occupation in which there is so little danger of ruinous loss taken into account.

Probably the agricultural associations have been among the most efficient instruments in raising the standard of Massachusetts agriculture. These societies are now seventeen in number. The oldest of them, the Massachusetts, founded more than sixty years ago by individuals residing in different sections of the State, has now a permanent fund of more than twenty-four thousand dollars; the youngest, the Middlesex South, has started into life since my last report was presented, and is exercising a marked and widely-felt influence.

The exhibitions held by the several societies during the last year were unusually successful. The articles exhibited were generally more numerous than on previous occasions, and the attendance was larger than it has usually been. It was a very common remark, that the societies seemed to have gained new life and vitality. These exhibitions, indeed, have become the grand holidays of the State; and the county fair is now generally regarded as the most useful and agreeable occasion of the year.

The members of the Board of Agriculture have made it a part of their duty to attend, not only the exhibitions of their own county societies, but also those of the other counties, and to report the results of their observations and inquiries to the Board. These reports for the last year are appended to this Report, and reference is respectfully made to them for further details in regard to each exhibition. This practice has already led to some valuable suggestions, and excited a useful spirit of emulation among the different societies. It must have a further good effect, both by extending the knowledge of all that is worthy of imitation, and by bringing to general notice all that should be condemned.

It has also been my intention to attend the exhibitions of cach society, so far as it could be done without interference with other duties; but it has frequently happened that several of these exhibitions fell on the same day, which made it impossible for me to carry my plans into execution. The subject of fixing times for holding these festivals in the dif ferent counties is now before the Board; and it is to be hoped that the societies will find it for their interest to adopt such arrangements as may be presented for their approval.

The prosperity of the societies has continued to increase, and many new members have been added.

The aggregate amount of permanent funds now

belonging to the societies is no less than $99,193 35 Amount received from new members, and dona

This shows an increase in the aggregate amount of permanent funds during the year of $6,376.81.

The details of the finances of each society will be found in the Appendix to this Report, to which reference is respectfully made.

As may be inferred from what has already been said, the general

condition of the agriculture of the State is highly gratifying. Those who, from their situation and opportunities of observation, are the most competent judges, entertain the opinion that there has been as much advance during the past year as could reasonably have been expected; and I may add, that the facts which have fallen under my own observation have led me to the same conclusion. The answers returned to the questions proposed in the circular already frequently alluded to show at the same time the deep interest taken in agricultural pursuits and the skill and general intelligence of those engaged in them. Perhaps it would be difficult to estimate too highly the importance of doing all that can be done, by judicious action on the part of the government, to keep alive and cherish an earnest desire of constant progress in this department of industry. It should be remembered that every improvement in the general system of farming, by the great increase of agricultural products and the consequent greater ease of providing the means of subsistence, must contribute materially to the comfort and happiness of every citizen of the Commonwealth, while it adds vastly to the aggregate wealth of the State. The encouragement that has hitherto been afforded by the government of Massachusetts has been fully appreciated by the farming community, and has for a long time been, and still is, producing its desired effect in increased crops and improved modes of culture. If we may judge of the future by the past, we cannot doubt that a continuance of the same liberal policy will be followed by similar good results.

CHARLES. L. FLINT,

Secretary of the Board of Agriculture.

BOSTON, January 10, 1855.