HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 245 



gate, and by their united action and concentrated efforts, im- 

 prove the soil and the mind, to give and receive mutual instruc- 

 tion, by bringing to one point the results of their varied expe- 

 rience. To aid this enterprise, and assist in a design so benefi- 

 cial to all, the Commonwealth, with a liberality unsurpassed by 

 any state in the union, annually gives from her treasury the 

 sum of six hundred dollars, to be distributed among the farmers 

 of Hampden county. This sum, the available funds of the 

 society being added, enables the society to offer such an amount 

 of premiums, as would warrant a much greater competition 

 than now prevails, to be the recipients of the bounty. 



And what prevents this laudable struggle for the prizes ? We 

 would press this enquiry home to the breast of every one. 

 What prevents you from participating in the bounties offered so 

 freely, and assisting by your skill and industry in elevating the 

 character of Hampden, for her agricultural products, and at the 

 same time your own, as a skilful husbandman ? You are a 

 great loser by this indifference and remissness, and the whole 

 community suffer proportionately by your neglect ; whereas, by 

 a little exertion and well directed effort, you would receive a 

 full reward in the larger measure of your products, and the ad- 

 ditional pleasure of a premium for your skill. This fact we 

 demonstrate by figures, rather than by argument ; we ask you 

 to examine the statement of Mr. Cooley, of his corn crop. 

 His figures show forty-six dollars clear profits per acre for his 

 efforts, and for his skill the society's premium of four dollars, 

 making his reward one hundred and sixty-five dollars and 

 ninety cents. And is Mr. Cooley the only person in Hampden, 

 who has raised a good crop of corn? We can only answer, he 

 is the only one who has given us the evidence of it. The 

 same remarks are applicable to the crop of wheat, presented by 

 Mr. Root, of Westfield. Examine his statement, and you see 

 he puts forty-one dollars and ninety cents profit into one pock- 

 et, and into another, four dollars more as a premium, upon one 

 acre of wheat. Again we would refer to the figures of Messrs. 

 Dickinson and Kirkland, as evidence that exertion and skill are 

 surely rewarded ; and while they smile over the receipt of 

 fifty dollars as clear profits, from one quarter acre of onions, 



