CUMBERLAND COUNTY SOCIETY. 55 



On the other hand, if you offer a premium for improvement in 

 live stock, far inferior to their's as his might appear, would not S. 

 be justly entitled to that premium 7 



It is the true policy of this Society, and all like it, to excite 

 among farmers strong motives for individual exertions. The actual 

 condition of the stock and farms is not what is to be decided. The 

 amount of progress made in a series of years determines the award 

 of the premiums. Consequently among a number of competitors 

 the successful one may often be the possessor of property, by no 

 means the best exhibited; and maybe indebted, for his triumph over 

 his rivals, to the fact that while he has equaled them in other things 

 he has not neglected to improve his stock. 



The members of this committee cannot perceive any more reason 

 for rejecting improvement in live stock than for rejecting improve- 

 ment in orchards ; for there is a special premium, offered by the 

 Society, on the fruit of each, and while, in the late circular from 

 the Executive Board, the one is mentioned, we say the other is 

 understood. 



Reasoning thus, and believing that, on very many farms in the 

 county, there can be no general farm improvement which does not 

 include, and, in some cases, depend upon that of live stock, it has 

 been determined by the committee to admit and duly consider such 

 improvement whenever offered. 



As there appears to be some misapprehension in the minds of 

 competitors respecting the proper mode of operating, it seems requi- 

 site to state further that premiums are to be awarded not for the 

 best orchard : not for the best stock ; not for the best, nor even for 

 the greatest improvement of any one or two things, but for "the 

 greatest general improvement" of the whole farm. The committee 

 understand the offer of the Society to be intended as an inducement 

 for the farmers of the county to take a broad and intelligent look 

 over the whole, with a determination to better the general condition 

 of their farms ; to grasp all in a comprehensive and scrutinizing 

 inspection, and having thus ascertained what they most need, judi- 

 ciously apply their money, labor and time to accomplish "the 

 greatest general improvement." In the minds of the committee a 

 sensible, well digested plan, which shall embrace all the required 

 labor in one scheme is, by no means, an unimportant part of the 



