NORFOLK SOCIETY. 281 



the southern and western farmers, in a pecuniary point. It will 

 be conceded, that we now have a protection on grain which is 

 enormous, — nearly three hundred per cent, on corn, two hun- 

 dred on wheat ; and this will remain till manufactories are dis- 

 tributed over the whole union. One would suppose, that this 

 protection would be a sufficient cause to make Norfolk county 

 a grain-growing county. And so it would be, if the agriculturist 

 looked at the matter as it is ; if they would begin their v/ork 

 as the man of science begins his. Perfection, however, will 

 not be rapidly approached until agricultural schools arc estab- 

 lished. 



Yet, with prudence, forethought, exactness in our calcula- 

 tions, at the same time, taking the known laws that govern 

 production as fixed, and making all our labor subserve to their 

 calls, what a difference there would be in the product. To say 

 nothing of the loss, in not having the land half ploughed, half 

 tilled, the waste of manure is enough to send blight and deso- 

 lation on every farm. While the food for plants is rising in 

 thick, dense gases from our manure heaps, could we but have 

 them colored, so that they would be perceptible to the eye, how 

 quick should we be at work to save that which is now more 

 than half lost. This being done, and it can be, there seems no 

 limit to production. The cultivators of our county would, at 

 once, more than supply all their wants. Labor can now be 

 profitably outlayed in raising grain crops, if the farmer would 

 but cultivate perfectly his crops, make and save all manure 

 within his reach, and rightly apply it. 



Your committee regret, that no call was made for premiums 

 for rye. They believe the rye crop one of the easiest, surest^ 

 and most profitable raised ; the straw alone, of late years, 

 would remunerate the producer ; and if land is to be seeded 

 down with any crop, rye is the best. They hope to see, at our 

 next anniversary, a competition for premiums, which will show, 

 that Norfolk is taking the lead in producing grain crops. 



CHARLES ELLIS, Chairman. 

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