No. 105. J 65 



Your committee are pleased to observe that the number of the 

 counties forming agricultural associations are regularly on the 

 increase. It was confidently predicted by those cautious persons who 

 looked with a jealous eye upon the appropriation by the Legislature 

 of so large an annual amount to the different county societies, that the 

 interest felt upon their organization would rapidly decline. Upon 

 looking over the annual reports, your committee are pleased to find 

 that while those first embarked in the cause are unanimous in their 

 declaration of a constantly growing interest in their several counties, 

 those who have but recently commenced, express their regret that they 

 had not earlier ventured to follow the example which had been set by 

 the State society, and they are now convinced from experience that no 

 measure has been more wise or more useful than that which led to the 

 organization of the county societies. 



Both the State and county societies are of the opinion that the 

 experiment was well worthy of trial, if it were only from the good that 

 has resulted from the rapid diffusion of the improved implements of 

 husbandry. At each annual fair, whether of the State or county, the 

 number of improved implements of husbandry sold to the farmers is 

 regularly and vastly increased. 



A similar result has flowed from the sale of improved stock. And 

 it is confidently predicted by some of the officers of the State society, 

 that a few, very few, years will elapse, before correct notions are 

 formed upon this subject, and an improvement will have taken place 

 that has never been anticipated. 



It is a matter of importance, in the opinion of your committee, that 

 the agricultural societies should diffuse sound practical information 

 amongst a class of men who are as solicitous of obtaining correct 

 views on subjects which deeply interest them, as are intelligent 

 and confiding farmers. Your committee are happy to say, that the 

 character of the transactions is, upon the whole, eminently practical, 

 and well calculated to diffuse sound information. 



The State society, and many of the county societies, have either 

 formed farmer's clubs, or organized agricultural meetings in connection 

 with themselves. Your committee have had an opportunity of witness- 

 ing the proceedings of those meetings, which have been held in the 

 Assembly chamber by the State society; and they feel constrained 

 to say that the nature of the subjects discussed, and the mode of 

 discussion cannot fail to develope a vast amount of valuable informa- 



[Senate, No. 105.] 5 



