IV ADVERTISEMENT. 



and expenditures, the result will be ultimately, that the reports from 

 the counties will become valueless. 



It is desirable that there should be a close and cordial intercourse 

 between the state and county societies. And that these numerous 

 and (if they so will it,) effective agents should feel that upon them, 

 in a great measure, depends the amount as well as value of the an- 

 nual accumulation of agricultural knowledge. The present volume 

 of Transactions shews conclusively that w^hatever the county socie- 

 ties may have heretofore been, they are no longer dull and inert as- 

 sociations. They have commenced a career of useful activity which 

 it is desirable to stimulate. The State Society is a noble institu- 

 tion, and it will only add to its fame and its usefulness by imparting 

 (if it is in its power,) energy and activity to the county societies. 

 Every man who is laboring for a county society should feel that he is 

 also laboring for the State Society, and that every valuable agricultu- 

 ral fact communicated to the one, w^ill find its appropriate place in 

 the transactions of the other ; whose eye is upon every agricultural 

 laborer in this vast field, and whose voice is ever ready to cheer 

 them in their work. 



The writer having shown himself the friend of the county so- 

 cieties, will be pardoned for venturing one word of counsel to their 

 oflBcers. In a vast number of cases, the statements received by them 

 from the individuals to whom their premiums are awarded, are defi- 

 cient in that exectitude and accuracy which can alone impart confi- 

 dence and give them real value. It is our business to develop 

 truth, and in discharging this duty, no rules can be too rigorous, nor 

 can the application of them be too stringent. 



Some of the societies give printed forms to the applicants for pre- 

 miums to fill up, a practice, the wisdom of which, the writer ventures 

 to question. Whenever the object is to arrive at truth, is it not better 

 to allow the witness to tell his own story in his own w^ay, than to 

 give him questions to answer 1 In the one case the story is tame 



