354 [Senate 



cates of the measurement of land and crops, which were according to 

 the requisitions of the Society, and such as to satisfy the committees. 



It was then, on motion, 



Resolved, That the thanks of the Society, be presented to Mr. 

 Henry Colman, for his faithful discharge of the duties of President of 

 the Society during the past year. 



Resolved, That this Society most cordially approve of the plan of 

 Mr. Colman, of visiting Europe for the purpose of examining into 

 and reporting upon the present condition of agriculture in Great Bri- 

 tain and on the continent, and especially into the management of the 

 agricultural and manual labor schools and experimental farms, as 

 likely to obtain an amount and kind of information in a very high de- 

 gree valuable to the country; and that the Secretary of the Society 

 present him a copy of the resolution. 



The effects and results of the labors of the Society have given 

 an impulse to improvements in all the branches of rural economy. 

 Whatever impediments may have been thrown in their way, by those 

 who are too conceited and self-sufficient to learn, or too misanthropi- 

 cal fo desire to enlighten their neighbors, yet the supporters of the 

 institution are strongly impressed with the importance of pressing 

 forward in the great cause of Agriculture; the art of all arts; the 

 progenitor, father and mother of all that ennobles and sustains the 

 family of man; and notwithstanding what the most inveterately pre- 

 judiced, or the most determined cynic, may say of its benefits, at any 

 rate the friends of the institution cannot be charged with doing any 

 harm to society, or acting from interested or selfish motives. If 

 nothing more is produced by their fairs and exhibitions than the 

 introduction of its members to the acquaintance of distinguished 

 individuals, and the establishment of an agreeable, harmless holiday, 

 it will not, we think, be frowned upon by those who are kindly dis- 

 posed to strew the sometimes thorny paths of life with fragrance and 

 flowers. 



The advantages to be derived from the association of individuals 

 for mutual instruction, protection and encouragement, do not require 

 to be enforced by argument. Has not the experience of ages sanc- 

 tioned its benefits ? Was any great object ever obtained except by 

 organization and action in masses ? It is the lever of Archimedes, 

 which moves the globe. The institutions of governments, of church- 

 es, of charitable, missionary, temperance, literary and benefit socie- 

 ties, are examples; and all branches of mechanics and trade have 

 their associations and societies. Shall not the Farmer be equally 

 entitled to its advantages ? Should he not be encouraged in every 

 project that holds out a chance of improvement in this noblest of all 

 improvements; the art which is the foundation upon which the whole 

 superstructure of civilized society rests 1 There cannot be a rational 

 doubt in :ulged upon the subject. It is a mere truism. 



The bringing together of so many of the liberal, talented and re- 

 spectable individuals, the very elite of the country, during an annual 

 fair — all able and willing to compare notes with their brother co-la- 

 borers, and to diflfuse, free as air, the experimental knowledge of their 



