146 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



pectancy of additional revenue. Change for the sake of change, 

 in our schedule, is not desirable, and it is safer to err on the 

 side of conservatism, where money is concerned, than to hasten 

 innovation. While it cannot be doubtful that a few years of 

 energy on the part of the society will lighten the burden of 

 debt, and thus enable the subject of disbursements to be looked 

 upon from a stand-point different from what is now allowable, 

 and these years will bring with them changed and improved 

 programme and premium schedule, I think it not appropriate to 

 consider the changes at present, when their adoption is only wise 

 at a future day. Then again, it is wiser to consider details 

 from time to time, as occasion demands, than to take them all 

 up at one sitting. It might be possible to dress out our society 

 in so fine clothes and so quickly that we should feel estranged 

 from it and lose our ease. But if each improvement suggested, 

 when approved, is accepted singly and upon its own merits, we 

 shall come to look quite as fine, and have none of the awkward- 

 ness of the half-grown boy who has donned for the first time a 

 suit of spotless broadcloth. For these reasons, and some others, 

 I hope to be excused from lengthening this essay by the annex- 

 ing of a premium schedule. The best way of the society 

 expending its funds, the details of dollars and cents, furnishes 

 of itself a large enough topic for an essay, and if it is to be con- 

 sidered, it had better be considered separately. 



The cattle show and fair has been, in general, the principal 

 avenue by which agricultural societies have sought popularity, 

 patronage, and to reach rural improvement. I wish to call at- 

 tention to another, merely suggested heretofore, by which im- 

 provement may be sought as successfully, perhaps, and I believe 

 more so, though in a quieter manner : it is by means of secur- 

 ing essays upon agricultural topics, to be written and to be dis- 

 seminated in the community. Of course the extent of good 

 which the society may do by this means is largely affected by 

 choice of subjects and the worthiness with which they may be 

 treated. The amount of encouragement extended in this direc- 

 tion must depend upon the state of the treasury. As this spe- 

 cies of service will not put money into the treasury, it will 

 appear more appropriate to a mature and rich society than one 

 in a different position. But I think it may be affirmed that 

 much substantial good may be done by essays, and that our 



