NORFOLK SOCIETY. 299 



On Essays. 



The committee to whom were referred those essays which 

 have been sent in for premiums offered by the society, have ex- 

 amined the same, and report ; — 



That but two essays were placed in their hands upon the 

 nature and treatment of the potato disease. Neither of these 

 seemed to the committee to supply the desiderata upon this 

 most difficult topic. ' 



One other paper, entitled '' Remarks on the agriculture and 

 manufactures of Norfolk county," with tables of statistics at- 

 tached, was submitted to the committee, and was by them 

 deemed of so interesting a character as to merit publication. 

 They therefore recommend that the premium of $10 be awarded 

 to the author, and that it be printed in the transactions of the 

 society. 



C. F. ADAMS, Chairman. 



Essay. Remarks on the Agriculture and Manufactures 



OF Norfolk County. 



It cannot be expected, of course, that any reliable statistics 

 of the agriculture and manufactures of the county can be made 

 up as they stand at this time. Such a labor no man or com- 

 mittee would undertake ; and, indeed, considering that all the 

 information we seek will be obtained next year by the officers 

 of the United States, such a proceeding would be labor lost. 



It seems to be well, however, that the society should have 

 some starting point in this matter, — something on its own 

 records to compare with, hereafter. — and to that end I have 

 compiled from the Massachusetts Report, for 1845, the statistics 

 of agriculture for our county in that year, — a copy whereof is 

 herewith presented for the use of the society. I have also ap- 

 pended to it a compilation from the United States census for 

 1840, in order to show the relative condition of the agricultural 

 interests at the two different periods. 



