CHANGES NEEDED. 259 



tion, in going about from place to place endeavoring to acquaint 

 themselves with what is transpiring around them ; in gaining 

 new ideas and facts respecting their own occupation. 



Professor Agassiz tells us that literary institutions should be 

 continually endeavoring to raise their standard of education, 

 and why should not this apply equally well to agricultural 

 schools, societies and fairs ? What new plans shall we adopt, — 

 what changes can be made, — what series of experiments can be 

 instituted that facts may be ascertained, statements and theories 

 proved to be either correct or false ? 



In order to awaken a new interest, we need to make some 

 changes in the programme for the fair days. It has been recom- 

 mended, and it seems to be desirable, that stock which is 

 brought for exhibition should remain on the ground during the 

 whole time of the show. It is well known that there are objec- 

 tions to this course ; but if some way could be adopted by 

 which it could be brought about, it would no doubt prove 

 beneficial. 



Every agricultural society should hold meetings for discussion 

 in connection with their fairs. It is by the interchange of senti- 

 ments, the exchange of ideas, that we derive useful knowledge. 

 Almost every farmer will have acquired some facts that will be 

 new to others. 



Some societies have offered premiums for reports made by 

 committees, that these reports may appear in the society's pub- 

 lished Transactions. This is very much to be commended, for 

 every society should publish the report of their doings in a 

 pamphlet form ; and it is to be hoped that this Board will 

 recommend to the legislature to pass a law making it obligatory 

 upon all societies to do this, and in case of non-compliance shall 

 subject them to the forfeiture of their State bounty. 



The secretaries of each society should be required to furnish 

 a full printed report of their doings, in accordance with the law, 

 as found in the General Statutes, chapter 66, section 5. 



Our State gives the annual bounty for the promotion of agri- 

 cultural improvements, and for our advancement in the know- 

 ledge and science of agriculture ; and how shall we become 

 acquainted with whatever knowledge others have acquired, if we 

 are not informed of it by the means of the press ? 



