28 BOARD or AGRICULTURE. 



encouraging the manufacturer to continue to produce what may 

 prove a useless article, resulting in his loss in the end. 



"With all the difficulties and embarrassments inhering to this 

 organization, — yielding slowly and reluctantly to our desires for 

 progress, still we are compelled at the present moment, to look upon 

 this as the highway over which to direct our efforts for the accelera- 

 tion of that progression, which is already sure, — but to our minds 

 too slow to keep time with the music composed by the secretary of 

 this Board, as the Farmer'' s March. 



After all is done that may be, to secure the presence of imple- 

 ments at the show, a great difficulty is encountered in the fact that 

 men of ordinary perceptions, — even any man, — may be wholly mis- 

 led in judging of new mechanical combinations, without an opportu- 

 nity to base an opinion upon practical trials. At the time, and 

 during the continuance of a show and fair, such trials cannot be 

 entered upon and conducted to any great extent. "With the opinions 

 at present entertained by your committee, in regard to the radical 

 defects in the great majority of tools now in use in the state for the 

 pulverization of soil, we deem it our duty to call the attention of 

 the state society to this point, and respectfully and earnestly recom- 

 mend that a trial of plows and other implements be by them under- 

 taken and prosecuted, at an early day, under such regulations as, in 

 the opinion of the society, may result in correct decisions. 



Agricultural implements are now manufactured in the state to an 

 extent to meet a very considerable portion of the consumption. 

 Plows in particular, are probably made to supply nine-tenths of the 

 demand. Of this implement of prime necessity, the principle in- 

 volved in the best phase of its construction. — the extent of its slid- 

 ing surfaces, — probably abstracts two-thirds from the propelling 

 force, to overcome the friction. With so small a portion of absolute 

 power remaining for direct effect, it may readily be concluded that 

 plows variously proportioned may differ widely in their efficiency. 

 Plows may be found in the market so essentially differing, that one 

 ploughing with one implement will produce a finer tilth than two 

 ploughinga with another. In our most hopeful moments, we cannot 

 look for the plow to be dispensed with for some time to come. 



As we have no model of excellence — no standard of perfection in 



