190 [Assembly 



toil of the tiller of the soil. One great idea appeared in all their 

 thoughts, to render pleasant as well as profitable the labors of 

 domestic husbandry. The most sanguine had but limited ideas 

 of success at first, still, in the prog, ess of time, the efforts of those 

 connected with this Society have been crowned with an abundant 

 harvest. Although mistakes have been made, and at times 

 things have not in all respects been as might have been desired, 

 still as a whole, I think I may with safety say, that no institution 

 of the kind has done more for the true interests of agriculture, 

 than lias been accomplished by this Society. 



It may not be unprofitable to draw a brief contrast between 

 agriculture as it generally prevailed in our State twenty years 

 since, and at the present time. Perhaps the minds of many who 

 hear me may call to mind a rural district as it then existed : a 

 half cultivated country would seem to indicate that chance had 

 vastly more to do with farming, than system, skill, and judg- 

 ment. It was an occupation in which but little improvement 

 was observed, from the practice of olden times. The practice of 

 the father was followed by the son, without investigating whether 

 there might not be improvements, the same tools were used, the 

 same method of operations observed; even the very rude dwel- 

 lings were in too many instances occupied, as if with religious 

 veneration, until absolute decay drove the occupants to find other 

 shelter. It was not then a day of progress, of advancement, to 

 any considerable extent. Failures and defective crops were con- 

 sidered as necessary evils for. which there was no remedy; they 

 were placed in the same connexion as pestilence and famine, 

 visitations from Providence. 



The inquiry was seldom made as to the reason of these failures, 

 it was a matter of coarse, and must be borne with patience. 

 The farmer's dwelling w^as then too often, a frail unpainted 

 house by the way-side, without shrubbery or yard, his scattered 

 and defective outbuildings were of a character both as to con- 

 struction and situation, often most inconvenient. The way-side 

 and hedges were covered with noxious weeds and shrubs, and 

 the fields plentifully supplied with thistles and other injurious 

 weeds. His stock, exposed to the pelting storms of the severe 



