NORFOLK SOCIETY. 309 



It is gratifying to receive such communications, as they man- 

 ifest the interest felt in respect to this great subject, and awaken 

 the hope that the day is not far distant, when the transactions 

 of this society shah annually be enriched with valuable essays 

 on the various branches of agriculture and the kindred arts. 



MARSHALL P. WILDER, Chairman. 



Agricultural Laborers. 



The question of offering premiums for the aid and encour- 

 agement of agricultural laborers, having been introduced by 

 Rev. Charles C. Sewall, of Medfield, it was referred to a com- 

 mittee, of which Mr. Sewall was chairman, with instructions 

 to mature a plan to carry out the objects intended. At a sub- 

 sequent meeting of the board of trustees, that committee, 

 through its chairman, submitted the following report, which 

 was adopted : — 



Your committee believe that the general profitableness of 

 farming, in this part of our country, is largely and increasingly 

 diminishing ; and that this is the consequence, in part, of the 

 ordinary qualifications and character of the laborers employed 

 on our farms — not altogether of the high wages demanded for 

 service, and the vast increase of competition in the sale of agri- 

 cultural products, which the rapid extension of means of cheap 

 and easy transportation has occasioned. They believe that this 

 state of things may, in some measure, be corrected, and that 

 every reasonable effort for its correction is now imperatively 

 demanded. In no other way can the abandonment of their oc- 

 cupation, by many farmers, and the discouragement of their 

 sons, who may contemplate a similar occupation — be prevent- 

 ed. In no other way can the continual emigration of young 

 men of energy and enterprise — whose presence is needed 

 amongst us — be checked. 



In the arrangements and operations of the manufacturer, we 

 are accustomed to see the utmost exactness of calculation, 

 order, industry, and skill. He demands constant care, faithful- 

 ness and regularity of labor, from all whom he employs. He 



