LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 251 



that the men who were able to make a nation were close observers of natural 

 laws as connected with the growth of plants and the sustenance of animals, 

 and that our indebtedness to them is not confined to the victories achieved on 

 the battle-field, and the advantages of a free government, but consists in no 

 inconsiderable degree in facts established and improvements made in agri- 

 culture. The fundamental idea in the organization of agricultural societies was 

 to better the condition of the farming class by introducing such improvements 

 in the various branches of husbandry as would secure the best returns for the 

 outlay of labor and capital. Of course the plan was intended to include 

 encouragement to those branches of industry with which agriculture is con- 

 nected. When Legislatures incorporate agricultural societies or provide for' 

 their organization, it is on the understood condition that they shall attempt the 

 improvement of agriculture. It is with this view that they are allowed to draw 

 money from the State treasury, or obtain it from the people. The matter may 

 be regarded in the light of a contract, the officers of societies pledging them- 

 selves to use the powers conferred on them as specified. The means by which 

 agricultural societies can effect improvement may be enumerated as follows : 

 1. The holding of exhibitions at which premiums are given for specimens of 

 superior merit or excellence in the different departments to which their super- 

 vision is extended. 2. The bestowment of money for making experiments to 

 settle doubtful questions. 3. The publication of special papers or essays 

 comprising useful information. Of these, the holding of fairs for the exhibi- 

 tion of articles and aninials is the most prominent, though not necessarily the 

 most important. The influence of these exhibitions depends very much on 

 the manner in which they are conducted. To effect the greatest good by these 

 exhibitions much judgment is required in the offering of premiums, and at 

 least equal judgment, accompanied by a good degree of independence exercised 

 in making the awards. In general the amount of the premium should be 

 graduated by the value and utility of the object for which it is offered. Excep- 

 tions, however, may properly be made in reference to objects which require 

 special encouragement for a time, or those the immediate introduction of 

 which it is desired to effect. An important object of these societies should be 

 to establish correct standards by whicli animals and articles should be judged. 

 The terms in which premiums are offered should be based on such standards, 

 and should, as far as possible, convey a clear idea in regard to them. The 

 mere use of the word test does not express sufficiently clear as to what 

 constitutes excellence. It is sometimes said that this should be left to 

 the awarding committees. But it is improper to leave it to them, because 

 different men are appointed to judge the same things at different times, 

 and their ideas in regard to standards of merit may not agree. Thus, 

 instead of establishing uniformity in regard to the things judged, the 

 decisions might nullify each other and nothing would be established. A 

 reasonable supposition is that the society seeks to make improvement in every- 

 thing for which it offers premiums, and that it has fixed certain standards in 

 reference to which the awards should be made. On this ground, agricult- 

 ural societies and the result of their fairs become, as they should be, correctors 

 of public opinion. The animals or articles on which premiums are 

 awarded may then properly be presented as examples for imitation. The 

 early but enterprising settlers of Michigan, knowing the great importance of 

 a thorough education in the business of the life of a farmer and cultivator of 

 the soil, and recognizing the value of this State for agricultural purposes and 

 the importance of association for the proper development of that interest, 



