SECRETARY'S REPORT. 49 



exhibition ; and that the trustees of the several societies be requested 

 in fixing the time of their fairs to consult the officers of contiguous 

 societies, and so far as practicable, so to arrange them that they shall 

 not conflict with each other. 



r. L. Rice, Chairman. 



The report was adopted. 



The committee on eighth Topic, reported as follows ; 



The committee charged to inquire " what proportion of the funds 

 of agricultural societies, if any, should be expended in promoting 

 general or permanent farm improvements?" report: 



That while the plan now in common use, of awarding premiums 

 on animals, vegetable products, implements and articles, shown at 

 our fairs, has been productive of much good, and ought by no means 

 to be discontinued, they yet believe that by this plan only a small 

 portion of the great field of improvement which is open to the farm- 

 ers of Maine, receives any direct or sufficient encouragement or stim- 

 ulus. We believe the time has come when our societies should com- 

 mence a new line of effort, aiming at greater and more important 

 results, although, doubtless, making less display at our annual 

 exhibitions. 



It is far easier to bestow careful treatment and liberal feeding or 

 manuring upon an animal or a crop, so as to secure the highest 

 prizes awarded for such, than it is to bring up to a similar standard 

 of excellence all the stock and all the crops of the farm ; easier far, 

 than to arrange the whole fiirm, its buildings, fences, and all else 

 which pertains to it, in the best possible order, and to put the whole 

 in the best condition. And your committee feel confident that the 

 latter should be the aim of every farmer, rather than a single great 

 crop, or a wonderfully fine animal. 



Some feeble efibrts have been attempted of this sort, by many of 

 our societies, but experience has fully shown that the small premi- 

 ums ofiered of five, ten, or fifteen dollars "for the best managed 

 farm," have failed of accomplishing much good. 



But where large prospective prizes have been offered for the great- 

 est improvenSent to be made during a series of years, the happiest 

 results have followed. As an instance in point, we refer to what 

 has recently taken place in Cumberland county, from the offer two 

 or three years of one prize of one hundred dollars, and a second 

 4 



