38 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



implements and live stock are every where to be seen. Although we cannot 

 present in detail the precise gain made in each particular, we propose to sub- 

 mit some iigures which may give a satisfactory view of the aggregate gain in 

 regard to several of the more important items : 



By comparing the United States Census returns for 1850 with those for 

 18G0,* we tind the number of acres in farms has increased from 2,039,596 to 

 2,677,130, or about 30 per cent. 



Value of farms in 1850, $54,861,748; in 18G0, $78,688,525; being an 

 increase of 43 per cent. 



^'alue of farm implements and machinery in 1850, $2,284,537 ; in 1860, 

 $3,298,327 ; being an increase of 44 per cent. 



The improvement in stock is greater still, and even surpasses our anticipa- 

 tions, extravagant as these have seemed to many. 



Value of stock in 1850, $9,705,726; in 1800, $15,437,380; showing an 

 increase of 5d per cent. Tliat this is mainly the result of improvement appears 

 from the fact, that in numbers our animals have increased less than 7 per 

 cent, during the same period. This fact is farther shown in the value of 

 slauglitercd animals, which in 1850 was $1,046,773, and had, in 1860, in- 

 creased to $2,780,179, or more than 08 per cent ! 



We do not claim that all increase of agricultural property in the State is 

 due to our organizations, but we do claim that the various improvements by 

 means of which this great result has been brought about, were, all of them, 

 initiated and steadily fostered and encouraged by them, and that hundreds and 

 thousands of farmers who have never been connected with them, but have 

 even sneered at their labors, have yet themselves, been excited to emulation, 

 stimulated to improvement, and induced to adopt better practices where they 

 have seen them prove successful with others. 



Admitting — for the sake of illustration — that only half the gain indicated 

 by the census returns relative to the four items above named is the result, 

 direct or indirect, of associated efforts, we still find that for every dollar em- 

 ployed by the State in fostering this great interest, during ten years past, 

 (aided by the larger voluntary contributions and labors of individuals,) a 

 return has been realized o£morc than thirty, or sixty, or an hundred fold. 



Uf the smaller associations, not stipendiaries of the State, such as farmers' 

 clubs and town exhibitions, we may remark, they arc the legitimate offspring 

 of those which the State has encouraged by its patronage ; the practical man- 

 ifestation of that spirit of inquiry and thirst for knowledge among farmers of 

 which we have before spoken. They are unobtrusively but effectually accom- 

 plishing a good work. 



County Agricultural and Horticultural Societies. These bodies are doing 

 wliat the smaller ones or private individuals, from pecuniary inability, could 

 not do. Their combined means have enabled them to introduce from other 

 States and other countries improved stock of various breeds, better seeds of 

 different kinds, and the choicest varieties of fruit; thus affording to all, ad- 

 vantages which even the most wealthy, when acting as individuals, could 

 hardly secure. Tliey In-ing together the farmers, their wives, sons and daugh- 

 .ters, with their various producti(jn8 from larger areas. Articles of manufac- 

 ture and of art, too, are collected at tiieir shows, making a much more in- 

 structive exhibition than can be made by the smaller associations. Tlie sim- 

 ple view, by one, of what has been accomplish(Ml I)y anotiicr, does mucli more 

 to excite emulation than mere unproved theories, however finely drawn and 

 attractively presented, and eacii one returns to his home from a well conducted 

 show with stronger determination to improve upon his former practice. 



♦For the latter wo are indebted to a comiiiunicntion from John A. Poor, Esq., to Ilis 

 Excellency, Governor Wasliburn, bearing date of Wnshir gtou, Jan. 20tb, 18U2, giving 

 some iigures in advance of the publication of the ollicial documents. 



