82 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



" When the steam is well up, set it usefully at work. And here 

 I wish most fully to endorse your suggestion, that farmers^ clubs 

 take this matter in hand.'' "In my zeal for practice, I will throw 

 out a few suggestions as to how the clubs may act efficiently. 



P'irst, They should oiler no money premiums ; partly for the 

 very good reason that most clubs have no money to offer. An- 

 other reason is, money premiums often excite enmity ; whereas 

 emulation, friendlif emulation, is the result desired, — the lever 

 with which we may hope most successfully to raise the mountain* 



Second, The awards should be of commendation merely ; and as 

 many as there are competitors — based upon the merit, or rank 

 system, as is. often practiced in schools, viz : 1, 2, &c. 



Third, The 4ighest awards should not necessarily follow the 

 largest expenditures of time and money, for in that case the most 

 wealthy could certainly win. 



Fourth, The highest awards should follow the improvements 

 made with the greatest^ taste and best judgment. 



Fifth, Each club should decide for itself in what direction its 

 competitors should expend their efforts ; for if each competitor is 

 allowed to select, there may be such a diversity of objects — some 

 of profit, others of adornment, that a committee would be puzzled 

 to decide which should take precedence. 



Another plan, and perhaps a preferable one, might be, to let 

 each competitor select the object or objects, which his fancy or 

 his greater necessity might lead him to labor for, and the com- 

 mittee be instructed to report upon each object, in this wise : 



Mr. A in propagating ornamental trees, stands No. 1 ; Mr. D 

 do No. 2, &c. 



Mr. B in gardening, stands No. 1 ; Mr. E do No. 2, &c. 



If the number of competitors is large and the objects many, it 

 might be well to have several committees. Say a committee on 

 orcharding, one on gardening, one on buildings, on ornamental 

 trees, on flowers, &c. — and in this way committee men (and 

 women ?). could be selected to judge of things in which them- 

 selves were not competitors." 



This plan is so feasible, and seems so completely adapted to 

 draw the members of a club together in harmonious action, with a 

 oneness of purpese for the common good, — a plan so calculated 

 to bring to the aid of each individual, the advice, encouragement 

 and sympathy of friends, which we all need so much, that I feel 

 to urge it most persistently upon this club for immediate adoption, 



