143 

 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ESSAYS. - 



To the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society: 



The special committee on essays respectfully report, that the essays 

 presented for their consideration were six in number, and on the fol- 

 lowing subjects, viz : 



No. 1 . On Thorough Draining. 



No. 2. On Manures, and their Application. 



No. 3. On the Cultivation and Management of Wheat. 



No. 4. On Fruit and Shade Trees. 



No. 5. On the Potato. 



No. 6. On the Cultivation of Wheat. 



The committee after much consideration, came to the conclusion to 

 adopt, as the rule of their action in reference to these essays, the fol- 

 lowing principles, which were in substance adopted by the committee 

 on essays, for the year 1853. 



1st. To entitle the essay to a premium, it must not only be the best 

 one offered upon any given subject, but it must also be of such merit 

 in its subject matter and composition, as would fairly entitle it to a pre- 

 mium. It must for this purpose contain facts, or establish a principle 

 before unknown, or not generally known ; or at least, if it establish no 

 new principle, that it should give facts or experiments, explaining or 

 illustrating those already known, or tending to establish what was before 

 doubtful. 



2d. Or if it profess to establish no new fact or principle, nor give 

 any new illustration of what is already known, it should at least, em- 

 body and classify in an unusually clear, concise and authentic manner, 

 whatever is known upon the subject of which it treats; it should avoid 

 all vague and iincertain theories and conjectures, and be well sustained 

 by established facts of general authority in the agricultural community. 



Under these rules, which the committee regard as both safe and ju- 

 dicious, they have, after careful examination, agreed to recommend that 

 premiums be awarded as follows : 



To Edward ^lason, of Detroit, for Essay on Thorough Draining,$15 00 

 " " for Essay on Manures and their 

 Application, _ _ 15 00 



