of Penmylvania. 317 



The fertilisation of fields and the clearing of lands, will ne- 

 cessarily call for an increase of cattle, sheep, hogs, and other 

 domestic animals. 



How to accommodate these to the climate, and the subsist- 

 ence of them to the modt's of tillage, and the prevailing grass 

 of the country, and to improve their breed, must be the result of 

 observatir>n and judicious attention on the spot, and cannot be 

 more safely conftded than to such societies. 



Of the utility of premiums and the establisment o/" societies, 

 we have daily proofs in our sister States, and in every European 

 country whose Agriculture is flourishing. 



Farmers and men of science have pressed forward into these 

 societies, and combined their knowledge for the accomplish- 

 ment of their laudable objects, and competitors for their pre- 

 miums have been numerous and enterprising. 



One illustration of this truth out of many is to be found at the 

 last cattle show at Brighton, in Massachusetts. — A noble spec- 

 tacle was there exhibited ! All classes of people pressed for- 

 ward for the prize, emulous only to be foremost in improving so 

 important a staple of their country. 



The show of cattle was succeeded by ploughing matches, and 

 a crowded assembly witnessed the animated exertions of the 

 competitors with unallayed pleasure, heightened by the reflec- 

 tion that to speed tht^ plough, was to promote the public good. 

 Such generous emulation merits encouragement. 

 There are advantages in local societies, which although less 

 glaring, are too important to pass without observation. 



By meeting in these societies, farmers wil] have an opportu- 

 nity of communicating their observations and experiments to 

 each other, and of comparing the results ; even unsuccessful ex- 

 periments have their use — they are as beacons in an unknown 

 navigation, and where men are acquainted with each other, false 

 shame will not prevent the disclosure of them. 



The most beneficial agricultural improvements have often been 

 retarded by unsuccessful experiments, which ought to be known, 

 to be remedied or avoided. 



Experiments which may fail in one place may succeed in ano- 

 ther, and thus the chances of success may be multiplied. 



Small societies may meet more frequently, whereby know- 

 ledge may be imparted which might otherwise be forgotten, and 

 zeal increased, which might otherwise be diminished. 



