18 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



" Let a statement of the character of the soil, whether light or heavy, 

 dry or moist, leachy or retentive of manures, the crop of 1859, kind 

 and amount and mode of application of manure in 1859, size of field 

 covered by the experiment, depth of first ploughing, kind and amount 

 of manure used in 1860, kind of crop, when and how sown, number of 

 times and manner cultivated, and weight of product on an average rod 

 of each plot be made in 1860, and returned in the annual report of each 

 society. 



" If there is a double product, a3 grain and straw, corn and stover, 

 let the weight of the secondary product be given on each plot. 



" If the competitor weigh the whole crop, instead of estimating it by 

 an average rod, there will be no objection to such a course. 



" A brief synopsis of the weather for each of the following months, 

 by dividing each month into three parts, and using the terms dry, moist, 

 and wet, to indicate the general character of the weather, will also be 

 expected. 



" A similar report of all the above items, except the nature of the 

 soil, will be made in 1861, and in 1862, when the premiums will be 

 awarded. No manure is to be applied to the second and third crop." 



" Voted, That the Secretary of the Board be requested to notify the 

 several societies of the above as soon as convenient; and that the 

 societies be requested to offer premiums which will secure an adequate 

 compensation for the time and labor consumed in the experiment." 



I hereby notify your society of the above vote. Evidence of a com- 

 pliance with it will be required before I shall feel authorized to draw a 

 certificate for the bounty to any society. 



One of the greatest obstacles in the way of agricultural progress is 

 the difficulty of obtaining reliable facts and statistics as a basis upon 

 which to establish principles and construct theories. As a general rule, 

 theories arc first advanced, and then isolated facts are brought forward 

 for the purpose of proving their truthfulness. It is true that agriculture, 

 is not, in the usual sense of the term, and probably never will become, 

 one of the exact sciences; yet there are many things connected with it 

 which ought to be taken out of the region of conjecture, and placed, by 

 repeated and multiplied experiment, upon a more substantial basis. A 

 single fact or experiment may be of only trilling value in itself con- 

 sidered, but when added to scores or hundreds of others, the whole 

 collectively may elucidate a doubtful point, or settle a vexed question. 



