AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 141 



The value of a premium will, in the long run, depend upon 

 the freedom of the society from fettering rules, and the compe- 

 tency of the judges. Our prizes may come to have a value above 

 those given by any local, or indeed present society in this vicinity, 

 because they may come to express the honest opinion of not only 

 fair men, but of better judges. When a committee award a 

 premium it should be given with a statement of the entries, so 

 that the public may estimate its true value. Often it would be 

 well for the judges to state the reasons upon which their ver- 

 dict is based ; this will offer no difficulty to a competent com- 

 mittee. Where there is no competition, it might be desirable 

 to withhold the premium, but in its place give a gratuity of 

 equal value. 



The appointment of suitable committees is an important mat- 

 ter. Upon their character will not only depend the worth of 

 the awards, but the reputation of the society at home and 

 abroad. When it occurs that neighbors are the appointed 

 judges of each other's stock, or what is worse, and happens not 

 infrequently, persons in interest, be they ever so honest, sus- 

 picion of partiality will attach to their awards. It occurs thus 

 in our society : Mr. A. judges Mr. B.'s Shorthorns, Mr. B. 

 judges Mr. A.'s Jerseys. The selection of judges being a mat- 

 ter of some importance, and requiring no little deliberation, the 

 present system of the trustees of the society meeting in a body 

 to do this is objectionable. 



1st. The body is quite too numerous to deliberate well. 

 2d. The time which they allow themselves to attend to the 

 business, which includes the selection of committees, the arrang- 

 ing of the programme of exhibition, and other details, is so 

 short, as to necessarily hasten their labors. I would suggest 

 that these two obstacles to the trustees' doing their work in the 

 most perfect manner, may be overcome by their appointing a 

 committee from among themselves, to meet with the executive 

 officers, to determine with them the committees. 



I think the judges should be appointed from outside the so- 

 ciety's incorporated limits, if good men can be secured, by the 

 society defraying their expenses of travel and entertainment. 

 To do so will be an inroad upon the custom of the society dis- 

 tributing its honors and duties among influential members. 

 They may get along very comfortably without the honors ; it is 



