NORFOLK SOCIETY. 317 



culture; all which circumstances seem to demand of this soci- 

 ety, and of every agricultural society in the country, if not of 

 the State and national governments, increased efforts to pro- 

 mote, in every possible way, the interests of agriculture and 

 the encouragement of the farmer. Nor can we forbear to add, 

 in the words of the respected president of another society, that 

 " the best of agricultural schools is now to be found in the con- 

 tinued employment of four years, or more, with a good practi- 

 cal farmer, who works in his own fields ;" an observation, the 

 justice of which, he confirms by many remarkable examples. 



Suggestions to the Trustees. 

 By the President. 



Two years have nearly elapsed since the organization of this 

 association, and we are about to enter upon the third of its 

 operations. What was considered a problem by many at its 

 commencement, namely, whether the proper elements existed 

 in our county to build up and carry forward with success an 

 agricultural society, has been solved ; and our institution, al- 

 though in its infancy, has taken an honorable rank among the 

 kindred associations of the Commonwealth. 



The society have held two exhibitions, in both of which, as 

 well as in its general welfare, its members have manifested a 

 commendable zeal, — a zeal it is believed, not entirely without 

 knowledge, and which gives assurance of stability and im- 

 provement in agriculture and the rural arts. 



These remarks are not made in the spirit of vain congratu- 

 lation, but as an encouragement to renewed efforts in the line 

 of improvement, and to secure still higher perfection in that 

 employment, which tends more than any other, to increase the 

 wealth, prosperity and happiness of our common country, and 

 of the world. 



It is, however, deeply to be regretted, that agriculture in this 

 county, as well as in other parts of the Commonwealth, has 

 not received that attention its importance demands. This is 

 partly to be ascribed to an erroneous impression that our lands 



