IQ BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



remained the same for many generations ; their natural instincts, 

 since becoming acclimated and completely in the state of nature, 

 teaching them what to do for their own preservation. Thus it is 

 that Nature does her own work faithfully ; but when we take 

 that work into our own hands, many of us show by our want 

 of success, that we really know less than the animals themselves, 

 led only by their own natural instincts. 



Having extended this article much beyond what I anticipated at 

 its commencement, and still but scarcely made a beginning in this 

 most necessary work, I may perhaps be pardoned when you 

 consider my own limited experience and what the urgency of the 

 case demands. Hoping those upon whom I have drawn so largely 

 will excuse me, I will conclude by urging upon our farmers and 

 stock-breeders to give this subject that attention which it evidently 

 demands, and by so doing they may prevent many of those evils 

 and failures that are almost constantly occurring. 



Some discussion followed the reading of Mr. Chamberlain's 

 paper, in which several members participated, and it appeared that 

 the views set forth in it were nearly in accordance with those of 

 all who spoke on the subject. 



Mr. Scamman presented a report on the subject assigned to him 

 last year, as follows : 



Salt Marshes. 



In selecting Salt Marshes as a topic for investigation it was 

 with the view to call attention to a subject that hitherto had been 

 almost over-looked ; a subject too, that on slight observation had 

 the appearance of being of some substantial advantage to the 

 agriculture of the State. That there is a large body of land in a 

 submerged state, or partially so, much of it worthless, and the 

 balance yielding only a small income, lying along our extended 

 sea-coast and beside our navigable rivers, is a fact conceded by all. 



But the idea that these sunken, uncouth lands possess inherent 

 properties of fertility, and could be raised from the watery element 

 so as to be the most fruitful and productive portion of our culti- 

 vated lands seems to have been nearly dormant in the community. 

 But now, as the former sources of our business and means of 

 livelihood are fast receding fi-om view, namely, our forests of 

 timber and wood, attention must be directed to other sources of 

 business and remuneration. We turn to mother Earth ; and it is 

 well for us to look here and see what sources of wealth have been 



