COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS. 



Returns will be found from about fifty county societies, and a 

 perusal of them will show that the progress of improvement in 

 this State has been most encouraging during the year. The re- 

 turns from most of the counties give evidence of a very deep inter- 

 est in the subject, and the almost universal expression in relation 

 to agricultural education, must convince the most casual reader, 

 that a spirit has been aroused on this important subject that w^ill 

 not be satisfied, until we shall have placed within the reach of 

 the sons of our farmers and mechanics an institution that shall 

 furnish them with such an education as is desired. 



During the past year the Secretary visited several of the county 

 societies, and delivered addresses to the farmers. In every 

 county where he visited the societies, he w^as most amply repaid 

 by the cordial welcome he received, and by the enlightened and 

 liberal spirit manifested by the farmers and mechanics in sustain- 

 ing their organizations. Inquiries, as to the best methods of cul- 

 tivating croj»s, as to cattle, sheep and horses, best adapted to par- 

 ticular localities, were frequent, and an evident desire was every- 

 where apparent to improve upon oM systems, and to secure such 

 information as would lead to a more perfect and complete system 

 of farming. 



The surveys of counties, which have been under faken by th^ 

 society, has opened to the farmers a new field of inquiry ; and 

 the desire to Secure tliesc surveys is sucli, that if the Society had 

 the means at command, and the men suited to the work, it would 

 take but a few years to secure complete agricultural surveys of 

 the wliole State, by which our resources would be fully developed» 

 and tlie system of hu>]>andry best adapted to the diflerent por- 

 tions of the State be secured. 



