34 BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



But we insist that every intelligent man, when he gives the mat- 

 ter a candid, impartial investigation, will involuntarily exclaim, 

 ' these matters are worthy of our consideration !' 



Let any man attend even our county shows in Maine, and com- 

 pare the full-blood and grade Durham, Devon, Hereford 'and Ayr- 

 shire with the native upon the ground (where we find the best of 

 them) and he will admit, without attempting to argue the case, 

 that the improvement from their .importation has exceeded his 

 expectations, and that our per cent, is far too small. 



We are of opinion that a man's aim should depend very much 

 upon circumstances. If he is in a locality where feed is luxuriant, 

 and heavy, fat beef commands a high price, perhaps he would pre- 

 fer the Durham. If his locality requires greater activity, labor 

 and growth upon more scanty feed, where uniformity of color is 

 desirable, and the consumer demands beef in smaller quantities or 

 from smaller animals, he would no doubt prefer the Devon, the 

 Hereford, or Ayrshire ; while if a small quantity of very rich milk 

 was desirable, he unquestionably would select the Jersey. Expe- 

 rience has taught us that every man should be his own judge — and 

 he may be, b}'- informing himself either by observation or experi- 

 ence, or both — for we believe that knowledge is power, in every 

 department of life, from the Executive down to the raising of pigs 

 send chickens. We trust you will not think it derogatory to the 

 former to be classed with the latter, for we conceive them to be 

 very intimately connected, and without the one the other could not 

 exist." 



The report was adopted. 



Mr. Bean, for the committee on location of exhibitions (the 

 eighth topic) submitted a report advocating the expediency of the 

 Board so recommending to the Societies ; after some discussion 

 the report was laid on the table and the following resolution passed : 



liesolved, That the subject of location should properly be left to 

 each Society to act upon as their judgment may dictate. 



Mr. Rogers, for the committee on best method of renovating 

 exhausted soils (the ninth topic) reported as follows : 



" In treating upon this subject your committee feel utterly in- 

 competent to do it justice. It is a subject that ever has and ever 

 will be open to discussion. 



The diversitj'- of soil to be acted upon, the difTerent localities in 

 which it is situated, and the means most accessible to improve it, 

 are so varied that it would seem impossible to prescribe a rule of 



