SECRETARY'S REPORT. 37 



Mr. Perley, for committee on the first topic, viz : " Our agricul- 

 tural organizations : what have they accomplished, and what claims 

 do they present for State patronage in the existing condition of the 

 country ?" reported as follows : 



When a work of any considerable magnitude is to be accomplished, united 

 effort is found to be much more potent than that of isolated individuals. 

 Accordingly, several years ago, farmers, finding their gains not commensurate 

 ■with their efforts and vrith the capital employed by them ; and finding them- 

 selves deficient in a knowledge of those principles by vrhich animal and veg- 

 etable life are governed, conceived and adopted the plan of uniting their 

 efforts in improving themselves in the theory and practice of agriculture. Such 

 is the origin of our agricultural organizations ; and such the objects had in 

 view. The results, if success attends them, are greater independence in indi- 

 viduals, enhanced value of lands and other property in the State and greater 

 ability in the inhabitants to sustain the burdens of domestic life and civil 

 government. 



What are the organizations to ivhich farmers have resorted? Answer : 

 District Farmers' Clubs ; Town Exhibitions ; County Agricultural Societies, 

 a State Society, and a State Board of Agriculture. 



AVhat have these organizations accomplished ? The inquiry may best be 

 answered by a simple statement of facts ; nor is it deemed necessary to enu- 

 merate all of these", but only to present a few, such as most readily suggest 

 themselves, as a type of the others. From the nature of the case, we are una- 

 ble to sum up in dollars and cents the advantages which the agriculture of the 

 State has derived from these associations. And here we cannot refrain from 

 again renewing the suggestions made by the Board in former years, of the 

 benefits which might be derived from more full and perfect statistics of the 

 industry of the State in other branches as well as that of agriculture, inas- 

 much as a knoidedge of facts is the only safe basis either of legislation or of 

 private enterprise. But the advantages gained are, nevertheless, just as real, 

 if not as apparent, as if measured in federal currency. Some of them are as 

 follows : 



By the association of the individuals composing these bodies, mind acting 

 upon mind has elevated the standard of intelligence among farmers, and excited 

 a thirst for agricultural knowledge Avhich augurs well for the future ; not that 

 they have already attained to excellence, but are earnestly seeking it. 



Through the direct influence of these organizations, may be traced in many 

 instances, the value of land enhanced from 100 to 500 per cent. ; and this to 

 the extent of many thousands of acres within the State. Saturated swamps, 

 and other wet lands naturally of little or no value, have been relieved of their 

 surplus water and brought under profitable cultivation ; sandy, barren plains 

 have been reclaimed and rendered productive, while the acreable produce of 

 lands already under cultivation, it is believed, has been largely increased ; yet 

 the work of land improvement has only commenced. 



Better farm-buildings, too, are every where seen; old, wife-killing houses 

 have given place to new, tasty and convenient ones; dilapidated, cold barns, 

 are supplanted by well-planned, well-finished and comfortable ones ; better 

 orchards, gardens, fences, and a general appearance of thrift are manifest 

 wherever these organizations have extended their influence. 



Through the same instrumentality the value of domestic animals has been 

 very greatly enhanced; and the gain is not so much the result of numbers, as 

 in the intrinsic value of the animals. Thus is fed at a less cost, the greater 

 value, while the net profit is increased. Improved breeds are fast crowding 

 out of sight the less thrifty and less profitable animals which have so long 

 filled our stalls and pens. In short, it is manifest to every thoughtful observer 

 that better farms and fiirm buildings, better orchards and gardens, better 



