392 State Board of Agriculture, &c 



gether, our occupation will assume a different aspect, and 

 become of increased importance to all concerned. 



I have thus as briefly as is consistent with my subject 

 glanced at the obstacles in the way of good farming, and the 

 great want of capital, in the judicious use of which they 

 may be i-emoved and a better system of agriculture insti- 

 tuted. 



To accomplish all that has been spoken of would, indeed, 

 be a serious undertaking and require a considerable outlay ; 

 but it is not to l)e supposed that all the obstacles men 

 tioned are to be found upon every farm, or in equal 

 degree, or that the improvements hinted at are the work of a 

 brief period of time, but that years, even, may be required 

 in their accomplishment. 



As farmers we may be able to see in what respects we, 

 personally, could be benefited l)y the employment of capital 

 in our occupation, and there are few here, I think, but that 

 will admit the possibility of positive improvement in their 

 system of husbandry and consequent condition resulting 

 therefrom to their lands and themselves, if they had even 

 a limited amount of capital to employ, as good judgment 

 and intelligence would dictate, upon the farm. 



How this capital is to be obtained is another matter, and 

 not so easily to be decided. The adding of farm to farm 

 has already been spoken of and need not be repeated, A 

 little farm, well tilled, is better tlian a large one carried on 

 in a slip-shod manner, is a self-evident truth, and if most 

 of thcBe large farms were divided, one-half disposed of and 

 the value of the same employed as a reserve fund for the 

 improvement and better cultivation of the other half, our 



