Excerpt from Agriculture of Pennsylvania: Containing Reports of the State Board of Agriculture, the State Agricultural Society, the State Dairymen's Association, the State Fruit Growers' Association, and the State College, for 1879

The fact that the Pennsylvania farmer cannot much longer hope to com pete with the low-priced and fertile lands Of the West in the production Of cereals and live stock, which, assisted by low freights, can be set down in our markets at a cost below that Of production here, is becoming every year more and more apparent; and it is but a natural result that our more progressive and thinking farmers Should be anxiously looking for some substitute which will afford them more remunerative results. Near our large cities and good markets the more perishable products Of the dairy have been able to hold their own against similar western products, and hence it is the farmers who are at a greater distance from market who are most in need Of new and more profitable crops.

This Board has always recognized as one of its leading duties, that of carefully investigating and fostering new sources of agricultural wealth and prosperity, and, as will be noted by reference to our reports Of 1877 and 1878, and to the papers and discussions given in that report, the ques tion Of the profitable cultivation Of some of our native fiber plants has for more than two years claimed the attention Of the Board. The result Of investigations and experiments, recorded not only in this State but also in New York and New Jersey, seem to demonstrate that this industry, with proper management, may, in due time, be made to add very materially to the profits Of the farm. The large number Of samples of native grown fiber which have from time to time reached the Office Of the Board, and the prac tical results laid before our June meeting by Samuel C. Brown, Of New Jersey, and as set forth in the report Of Mr. Lefranc, Show the possibilities in this direction, and as soon as the profit of such culture has been plainly brought before our farmers, we may how for solid and beneficial results.

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