3^- BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



scanty in quantity, or deficient in quality. He may find a thou- 

 sand leakai^es which need to be stopped, and not unlikely that 

 a radical change of policy may be required, as from tillage to 

 grazing, or vice versa, as a main and Icadhig objee-t. Not only 

 has each section of country its natural advantages or disadvan- 

 tages, as soil, climate, proximity or remoteness af market, but 

 so likewise has eacli farm in a greater or less degree, and true- 

 policy dictates that the advantages should be so followed up as 

 to secure the best jwss^ible returns for labor, skill, and capital 

 invested. 



As division of labor in other departments of industry greatly 

 enhances profits, and is often the sole dependence for success, 

 ■why may it not be so with agriculture ? The man who has an 

 intelligent insight into bis affairs through accurate accounts, may 

 see clearly, that if his means, skill, and energy, were concen- 

 trated on one main branch, he could more thoroughly under- 

 stand, and more profitably conduct it. 



What is urged in this connection, is not mere matter of thcorj-. 

 In ather pursuits it has been abundantly demonstrated in prac- 

 tice, nor is it without illustration in some instances among us in 

 agricultural operations. It has been said that retired merchants, 

 sea captains and military men, make the best of farmers. 

 Whether this be just so or not, observation will convince any" 

 one, that a great majority of the men, who, to-day, are not only 

 elevating and ennobling the profession of agriculture, but actually 

 are the most successful in a pecuniary point of view, are men 

 who were either bred in the counting room, or elsewhere have 

 acquired habits of exactness, accuracy and method, and that their 

 success is in a great degree owing to their possession and use. 



It may be thought that undue stress has been laid on this as 

 a prominent want of agriculture, and perhaps it is over estima- 

 ted, but our conviction is strong that if it be supplied, not only 

 will other wants present themselves in so doing, but ways and 

 means will some how or other be devised to supply them, and' 

 that rapid improvement will ensue. 



The next broad and con>prehensive want to which attention 

 is called, is the application of scientific pnndplcs ta the prac- 

 tice of agricultxire. 



