NORFOLK SOCIETY. 273 



The farmers of Norfolk county are taken by surprise. Their 

 active friends have formed a society and adopted a constitution, 

 organized and offered premiums, appointed committees, and 

 issued circulars, before the existence of the society has become 

 generally known. 



Few men are willing to ask an examination of their farms, 

 and none are able to prepare a statement, which, under other 

 circumstances, would be considered indispensable, and which 

 your committee believe should be hereafter required. 



In addition to the duty of visiting and examining the farms 

 offered for premiums, several of the committee have visited 

 other farms in different parts of the county, without notifying 

 the proprietors, and in some instances without their knowledge, 

 and we are happy to state, that we believe there are many farms 

 in the county which would compare favorably with similar es- 

 tates in any county of the Commonwealth. Several farmers 

 are in the habit of keeping an accurate account of the entire 

 management of their crops and stock, the expenses of the fam- 

 ily, and the improvements and cultivation of the farm ; also, of 

 the several items of income and profit. Your committee pro- 

 ceeded to examine the farms offered for premiums, without ex- 

 pecting or requiring such statements from the applicants, and 

 finding the appearance of the farms offered, the condition of 

 stock and crops, and the general disposition and arrangements 

 of the entire establisments, so perfectly satisfactory, they rec- 

 ommend the award of the society's first and second premiums. 



Your committee "admire great farms," but they have been 

 taught to believe it better to ''cultivate small ones." We 

 think there are many small farms in this county which will 

 soon be brought into favorable notice. The proprietors of 

 them are " men of the right sort ; " if they do not possess large 

 estates, cultivate extensive fields, and rear herds of cattle, they 

 manage well their own affairs, till their own soil, and get an 

 honest living. Their is an air of cheerfulness and comfort 

 about their estates, which their more wealthy neighbors oftener 

 covet than enjoy. 



Your committee recommend to the trustees of the society, to 

 require, that future applicants for premiums furnish a full and 

 35 



