208 HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN, AND 



He rejoiced to witness such occasions, because they were 

 of vast benefit to the farming interests. It had been his privi- 

 lege to witness many such, in various places, and he was happy 

 to observe a decided increase of interest manifested in them. 

 The reports which had been published bore testimony to that 

 state of feeling, and to the progress which had been made in 

 practical agriculture. No State had shown so much improve- 

 ment in this respect as our own. He spoke of the advantages 

 of a publication of the Transactions of Agricultural Societies, 

 and was surprised that the subject was so little regarded. He 

 said such publications exhibited as it were, maps of the farms 

 in the respective agricultural districts ; they were a sort of ther- 

 mometer, to show what was doing all over the county. He 

 referred to the Essex county society, as presenting a praise- 

 worthy example in this respect. It had for years issued vol- 

 umes of its transactions, embracing Essays on the various 

 branches of agriculture and horticulture, thus bringing theory 

 and practice together. And these publications were doing 

 wonders. He hoped that other societies would imitate the ex- 

 ample. 



He recommended that premiums should be offered and 

 awarded for the best cultivation of entire farms. He thought 

 it more desirable to secure the general cultivation of farms in 

 the best manner, than merely for examples of extraordinary 

 growth or production in some single department of agriculture. 

 He expressed his admiration of the address of Mr. Lee in the 

 highest terms. It presented a view of what persons ought to 

 learn. He taught the important lesson, that in no department 

 of human operations was science more necessary than in that 

 of farming. To what more important purpose can science be 

 adapted than in the production of what we need to eat, and 

 drink, and wear ? 



Mr. C. expressed the hope that the Legislature would grant 

 the means of making science tributary to agriculture. He 

 hoped to see county schools of agriculture established, with 

 moderate means, so that all might be properly instructed in the 

 knowledge of farming. He hoped the farmers of this valley, 

 who might be members of the Legislature, would think of this 



