FARMS. Ill 



make the rich gift of the late Dr. Treadwell answer the reason- 

 able expectations of the departed donor, — a gift for experimental 

 purposes only, is it not immensely important to gather iip the 

 experimental knowledge of the county, that it may be made to 

 bear first upon the farm itself, and thence to be radiated in every 

 direction ? 



One word on the subject of changing our established modes 

 of operation. Radical changes are to be watched with a scruti- 

 nizing and an anxious eye. Once open the door of innovation, 

 and that door will be hard to shut. But a distinction is to be 

 made between such as are radical and those only that seem so. 

 It is certainly possible to hate the turf, and yet to love the soil — 

 to hate the horse-race, and yet to love the horse ! Such changes 

 as are here hinted at will not be likely to find favor in our 

 society, unless young America should become more rampant 

 than the present substratum of fogydom will admit. 



Of the necessity of such a change as I am advocating, how- 

 ever, several of the officers of the society have become so 

 impressed, that they have voluntarily contributed the funds 

 necessary for a partial exploration of the county during the year 

 now drawing to a close. The inquiries have related chiefly to 

 manures and their application, as being a subject underlying all 

 others, and in importance, overshadowing all others. These 

 inquiries have been extended into twelve diiferent towns in the 

 county, and in some cases to as many as five different farms in 

 the same town. And it has been most gratifying to notice the 

 kindness and promptness with which every inquiry has been 

 answered, both orally and by letter. To " collect and diffuse 

 informatfon," is an object at least as important for an agricul- 

 tural society, as for a State Board of Education, whose biisiness 

 it is made by law, and thus far has proved as pleasant as it is 

 important, and will be continued or discontinued of course, as 

 society shall smile or frown upon it. 



In making a small circuit through a portion of the county 

 during last year, for the same general purpose, it was apparent, 

 that from motives of delicacy gentlemen were frequently reluc- 

 tant to communicate fully, when informed that facts so collected 

 were intended for publication. This year it is understood that 

 names will not be published. A list, however, will be left with 



