* . SECRETARY'S REPORT. 29 



the plow anywhere, Yankee ingenuity never having brought it 

 strictly under the application of scientific principles we have no 

 reliable guide in our selections short of the trial. 



But few trials of plows are on record. One only has ever been 

 attempted on this Continent, that resulted in any marked success. 

 The one had at Albany in 1850, conducted by a committee appoint- 

 ed by the State Agricultural Society of New York, is full of in- 

 struction, and may, so far as their experiments extended, be safely 

 taken as a basis for operations here. Sufficient time has elapsed 

 since that trial to Avitness essential modifications in the implement, 

 whether for better or worse, no one may presume to know. The 

 expenses of a trial need not be very great. 



A scale of premiums, open to competition, would be desirable ; 

 and plows of all the patterns now made and sold in the state, should 

 be collected and passed upon. Men of competent qualifications may 

 be induced to aid the cause in the capacity of judges, by the pay- 

 ment of their current expenses. This trial should embrace harvest- 

 ing and other machines. 



Encouragement should be given for the introduction and trial of 

 machines, other than plows, for deep and thorough pulverization of 

 the soil. 



The society should own a dynamometer for testing the amount of 

 draft. A good instrument may be had for fifty dollars. 



Hoping to see the means provided and the preliminary steps soon 

 taken for the accomplishment of the important purposes here 

 briefly indicated ; — we only desire to add definitely our opinion, that 

 the extent to which each individual farmer should introduce improv- 

 ed implements, may be limited only by the means at his command 

 for such purpose ; subject only to that condition of things when he 

 cannot longer add machines nor employ brute force to propel them, 

 as a substitute for, and as an alleviation of the " wear and tear " of 

 the only animal who has a soul ; and the means and agencies to be 

 employed for supplying that knowledge, through which each for 

 himself, will see, understand and act for his own best interest, such 

 as are feebly indicated above. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



Calvin Chamberlain, per order. 



The remarks upon mowing machines in the report as first read, 



