a State Society of Agriculture* xxv 



books and other articles, at the disposal of the society, may- 

 pass through the hands of the county or other societies, for 

 many purposes ; and they can judge on the spot, of the pre*- 

 tensions of the claimants. The county schoolmasters may 

 be secretaries of the county societies ; and the school houses 

 the places of meeting and the repositories of their transac- 

 tions, models, &c. The legislature may enjoin on these 

 schoolmasters, the combination of the subject of agriculture 

 with the other parts of education. This may be easily ef- 

 , fected, by introducing, as school books, those on this sub- 

 ject ; and thereby making it familiar to their pupils. These 

 will be gaining a knowledge of the business they are desti- 

 ned to follow, Avhile they are taught the elementary parts of 

 their education. Books thus profitable to them in the com- 

 mon affairs of life, may be substituted for some of those now 

 used ; and they can easily be obtained. Selections froi^ the 

 best writers on husbandry may be made by the societ}'. The 

 essays of our own experimentalists or theorists, and the pro- 

 ceedings of the societ}', will also afford information ; and as 

 many of these will, no doubt, be good models of composi- 

 tion, they may form a part of the selection for the use of the 

 county schools. And thus the youth in our country will ef- 

 fectuall)', and at a cheap rate, be grounded in the knowledge 

 of this important subject. They will be easily inspired with 

 a thirst for enquiry and experiment, and either never acquire, 

 or soon banish attachments to bad systems, originating in the 

 ignorance and bigotry of their forefathers, which in all coun- 

 tries have been the bane of good husbandry. It will also be 

 the business of the society to recommend the collection of 

 useful books on agriculture and rural affairs in everj^ count}?". 

 The citizens of the country should be drawn into a spirit of 

 enquiry by the establishment of small, but well chosen libra- 

 ries, on various subjects. This would not only promote the 

 interests of agriculture, but it would diffuse knowledge among 



