140 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



be first sought in all efforts at rearing them. He that 

 buys any thing short of this, will surely " pay dear for his 

 whistle." 



Space will not admit of reference, in detail, to many other 

 objects exhibited. Suffice it to say, that the spacious new Town 

 Hall of Greenfield — worthy of any city in the State — was well 

 filled throughout, afl'ordiug a gratifying view to a numerous crowd 

 of visitors, and a remunerating income to the managers of the 

 exhibition. This mingling of the " sweet with the useful," in 

 agricultural exhibitions, is a new feature, but one that contains 

 within itself, when properly regulated, a self-sustaining power, 

 almost equivalent to perpetual motion. Wisely have the citi- 

 zens of this beautiful town, thus freely furnished such ample 

 accommodations for their friends and neighbors, the farmers of 

 the county ; thereby giving a permanence to the place of ex- 

 hibition — a thing greatly desired in many counties, where it 

 cannot conveniently be had. 



On the ploughing field were about a dozen teams, which per- 

 formed their work to admiration. There should have been 

 three times as many. Although great perfection has been at- 

 tained in this fundamental operation on the farm, there is still 

 room for very great improvements. Who thought, five years 

 ago, of the benefits to be derived from the operations of the 

 double plough, that lays five inches of the under soil directly 

 upon three inches of the sod, and in a form so broken and 

 pulverized, as to be fit for immediate culture. This improved 

 implement alone, if I do not mistake, will be a saving of thou* 

 sands of dollars, annually, to the Commonwealth. The more 

 I see of its operations, the better I like it ; and never have I 

 witnessed it holden more successfully, than on the meadow 

 banks of the Connecticut, at Greenfield. 



While all the performances in the field were so satisfactorily 

 completed, the indoor operations were equally well done. A 

 crowded assemblage of stalwart yeomanry listened for one and 

 a half hours, to the fluent and sensible discourse of Dr. D. 

 Lee, of Rochester, N. Y. Without the embarrassment of 

 notes, he proceeded to explain the phenomena of vegetable 

 culture and growth, with his ear of corn and potato in hand, 

 in a manner that commanded the undivided attention of his 



