THE USE OF STEAM ON THE FAEM. 275 



ownership, the power may become joint property, or the till- 

 age of a neighborhood may, by agreement, be performed by 

 one owner, who shall engage in it as a business. All this 

 would not be a greater change than we have seen take place in 

 our farm-operations within the last twenty years. It seems 

 but yesterday that we were struggling, and human muscles 

 driven to their utmost strength, that with scythe, sickle, cra- 

 dle, and hand-fork and rake, we might secure our summer 

 crops. To-day, seated on light, easy-moving and riding, but 

 most effective working machinery, we drive across our fields 

 in comfort and pleasure, and garner them with a rapidity and 

 perfection unknown and not conceived of in the olden time. 

 Now, the general progress of the age, the interest of agricult- 

 ure and of mankind demand that the sweating, jaded horse 

 shall be unhitched from the plough and other heavy draughts 

 of the farm, and the tireless, nerveless engine shall be har- 

 nessed in his place, and made to contribute all its power to 

 diminish labor and increase the food-products of the soil. 



Levi Stockbkidge. 

 O. B. Hadwex. 

 Farwell F. Fay. 



After discussion, the essay was laid over under the rule to 

 come up for a second reading. 



Voted, To approve the action of the Middlesex North Ag- 

 ricultural Society in uniting its exhibition with that of the 

 New England Agricultural Society, and that it shall not prej- 

 udice its right to receive the bounty of the State. 



Voted, To appoint a Committee of three to consider and 

 report to this Board with reference to applying to the leg- 

 islature for further protection against frauds in fertilizers. 

 Messrs. Clark, Saltoustall and Stone. 



Mr. Saltoustall, Chairman of the Examining Committee, 

 submitted the following Report on the Massachusetts Agri- 

 cultural College : — 



