FARMS. 105 



PLYMOUTH. 



Report of the Committee on Farms. 



In past years it has not been the practice of the society to 

 appoint a special committee on farms, but to make the labor of 

 reporting on farms incidental to the work of other committees. 

 This subject, however, is deemed of too much importance to be 

 treated in this manner, and accordingly, a committee has been 

 selected for Jfiis particular purpose. 



That there is no general want of interest in the success and 

 usefulness of the society among the farmers of our county, is 

 evident to the most casual observer. A reluctance, however, on 

 the part of those most deeply interested in the advancement of 

 agriculture, to furnish to the society that information necessary 

 to its usefulness, is but too apparent. The cause of this back- 

 wardness to communicate information which would be so inter- 

 esting to all, is, perhaps, not difficult to be accounted for. It 

 is the practice of most of those who cultivate the soil, to carry 

 on the complicated business of their farms without much regard 

 to the exact expense of each crop cultivated, and each animal 

 kept ; it is considered sufficient, if the whole farm has produced 

 enough to enable them to live comfortably, without troubling 

 themselves to ascertain what part of their labor has paid its 

 way, and what has not. Now, when the society offers a liberal 

 premium for the best cultivated farm for a period of four years, 

 on condition of an exact report of the state and value of the 

 farm and every thing that pertains to it, the crops, mode of cul- 

 tivation, expense of each, and the general management of the 

 whole, it is not surprising that only a few are found who are 

 willing to respond to the call ; this would involve an entire 

 change of habit. That this close attention to details, however, 

 is necessary to any success that is not «nerely accidental, and 

 that that which is necessary to the prosperity of the society is 

 necessary to the prosperity of each individual farmer in the 

 county, must be evident to all who seriously reflect on the 

 matter. 



The committee on farms have to regret that only two entries 

 have been made for the society's premium ; but they cannot 

 but indulge the hope that many farmers will be found, although 



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