Q BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



present } r ear, premiums for Farm Improvements, to be awarded in 

 the autumn of the year 1874, to an amount not less than one- 

 fourth of said bounty. 



The first vote simply continues the policy which has been acted 

 upon for several years past and which has been productive of 

 highly satisfactory results. If a sufficient number of Clubs have 

 already been formed, you can expend the whole amount (to wit : 

 one-fourth of what your society receives from the State,) for 

 books, lectures, or such other aid as you deem best adapted to 

 promote their prosperity and efficiency. 



The second vote is in place of one requiring- premiums to be 

 offered for several years past on' wheat culture. That was effi- 

 cacious of good, but unequally in different parts of the State. 

 The present requirement promises more uniform good results in 

 all sections. 



It inaugurates a new policy. The principal reason (among 

 others) for this action by the Board lies in the fact that of late 

 years encouragement by means of premiums offered by Agricul- 

 tural Societies has been almost, if not wholly, confined to such 

 objects as contribute to the attractions of the Annual Exhibitions, 

 to the exclusion of other improvements which may be more need- 

 ed but cannot be competed for or exhibited upon the show grounds. 



The desire of the Board is that the improvements to be made 

 should be those which are most needed upon the farm of the 

 person competing for a premium, whether they pertain to build- 

 ings, fences or tillage, whether to underdrains, manures, orchards 

 or forests, whether to reclaiming waste land, renovating impov- 

 erished lands, re-seeding grass lands damaged by drought and 

 grasshoppers, or whatever else is most wanted to improve the 

 farm . 



It is further the desire of the Board that the premiums be so 

 offered as to stimulate improvement among those of small means 

 equally with those possessing larger means ; that is to say, that they 

 be offered not for the greatest amount of improvements irrespect- 

 ive of cost, but for the highest degree of skill and judgment 

 manifested in adapting means to ends, or, in other words, for the 

 most economical results in proportion to the time, labor or money 

 expended in making the improvements, or for the greatest results 

 at least cost, a reasonable amount being accomplished. % 



It is obvious that no one competing for premiums offered upon 

 such terms is in danger of suffering loss by reason of devoting his 

 energies and means to such competition. Undoubtedly every one 

 will be well repaid in the direct results of his labors, and there will 

 be the additional motive of a handsome prize besides. 



Let me suggest also, that you offer and publish the premiums 

 for Farm Improvements, together with the conditions upon which 

 they are to be awarded, at an early day, making them as widely 

 known as possible, and fixing a suitable time for the close of 

 entries, (say in early summer,) so that a committee, to be carefully 

 selected by you, consisting of judicious and impartial men, may 

 visit the farms of the several competitors during the coming 

 summer or autumn. This committee should observe carefully and 



