96 



out and extension of these plans must, therefore, be left to the Corresponding 

 Olticer for the next year. 



In our own State the labors of the Secretary have been especially directed to 

 the collection and diffusion of information upon the present agricultural condition 

 of the various counties — their soils and crops — manner of cultivation — adaptation 

 to tillage as compared with grazing — and the various other details of the systems 

 of husbandry practised therein. To this end he has addressed letters of inquiry to 

 various gentlemen in each county, soliciting con'espondence and information, and 

 inviting suggestions for improvement. This effort has met with partial success; 

 hut in many instances the Secretary has to announce with regret, that the efforts 

 of the Society have met with no return. That this is caused by carelessness, or 

 the want of interest, he is loth to concede; but surely the Society, acting as 

 it does gratuitously, has the right to expect from those enjoying the fruits 

 of its labors, that they will impart, not from their purses, but from their stores 

 of experience and observation. The value of these contributions does not 

 end with the present. In future times they will form a portion, and no value- 

 less portion, of the histoiy of the past. In this respect we are possessed of 

 a peculiar advantage — we are young — our State is in its infancy; and, as a 

 distinguished laborer in this common field has remarked, "it is pleasant to 

 believe that when the substitution of highei- and improved systems of husbandry 

 shall enable our country to sustain the dense population which wiU one day inha- 

 bit it, our posterity will revert with gratitude to the labors and efforts of those 

 who were the pioneers in these improvements." " And he who from his superior 

 experience, more extended observation, scientific acquirements, or skill in tracing 

 effects to causes, is competent to point out the steps to such improvements, and 

 ' to show how two blades of grass may be made to grow where only one grew 

 before' — should never refuse to impart the knowledge to those who are less for- 

 tunate, or less sagacious." Many contributions, however, have been received 

 which are of value ; and to those gentlemen who have so kindly furnished them, 

 the thanks of the Society are due. While the papers herewith submitted, may 

 be found w^anting in many points of interest and importance, it is indeed a 

 triumph for us, and one over which we may well rejoice, that we have succeeded 

 as well as we have, amid such untoward circumstances. We may, indeed, confi- 

 dently anticipate, that another year we shall meet with still greater success, and 

 still moi'e encouragement to persevere in the efforts which we, as a Society, have 

 undertaken. 



As another means of arousing the attention of the agriculturists of the State 

 to the efforts being made by the Society, the Secretary, under the direction of 

 the Executive Committee, spent some time during the psist summer in visiting 

 the various counties of the State, and endea\oring by various means to excite an 



