142 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



not useful that this state of things continue. It is very prob- 

 able, should the society secure able men from abroad, eminent 

 for their judgment in those things appointed them to judge, a 

 few years would find the entries pressing in upon the secretary 

 as never before, and the society come to rank as among the 

 most influential in New England. But yet more is required. 



My idea would be for the society in no case to foster a taste 

 for that which is unprofitable or undesirable, and bestow the 

 largest encouragement upon those useful objects in which the 

 most capital is invested in the district, unless in cases where the 

 society desires to encourage the trial of something new, or other 

 special purpose. I am speaking of the society now in its field 

 work, — work upon exhibition days. 



The amount of premium will not always determine the 

 amount of inducement to exhibitors. If it costs more to ex- 

 hibit some kinds of live stock than others, as it undoubtedly 

 does, then the relative encouragement given for the exhibition 

 of different kinds of stock, or articles, in as far as money is 

 concerned, consists in the relative margin for profit above the 

 cost of exhibition, should the premium be secured. Thus it will 

 cost more to bring live stock from a distance to the fair grounds 

 and maintain them, than it will to bring a plough or tedder. In 

 fixing premiums it will be well to consider the cost of exhibi- 

 tion, and to fix them enough above this sum to afford some 

 profit to the exhibitor, if he is so fortunate as to secure a prize. 

 When there is first, second, third premium, I would have the 

 lowest, if practicable, higher than the actual cost of exhibition. 

 If the society had the means, it would be well for it, when many 

 entries were desired, to pay to all exhibitors some portion of the 

 expense they incur. 



But it may be said, if the sum received above the expense of 

 exhibition is that, which, so far as money is concerned, induces 

 persons to enter animals and objects for exhibition, there will be 

 many cases where this profit in premium, or chance of profit, 

 will exist only for those who live near the fair grounds. Per- 

 sons living in the remoter portions of the district are at greater 

 risk, expense and inconvenience when they exhibit. If such 

 receive premium it will not sufficiently recompense them. To 

 secure considerable entries from the more remote towns, it is 



