92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



provement made possible with our animals. Thus we lose 

 sight of the idea that a horse is a frame with the skin drawn 

 over it, and begin to conceive of the possibilities of the 

 animal in one direction or another, not in all. We begin 

 to divide and sul)divide. There follows an ideal of form 

 adapted to the purpose, and the work of improvement, 

 through education, has commenced. 



It is the same with the cow, the sheep, the poultry, the 

 whole range of animal, vegetable and mechanical products. 

 The primal object of all exhibition and competition should 

 be to fix this ideal of parts, with sole reference to purpose so 

 clearly in the mind that, in measuring, the perfection of each 

 shall decide the question of worth. There has been no desire 

 here to discuss moral or ethical questions, but to present 

 fundamental facts which have a direct bearing upon what is 

 to follow. 



We are to-day to discuss the scale of points as a means of 

 determining value and deciding the question of merit at our 

 agricultural fairs, between animals, farm, garden, orchard, 

 household or mechanical products. 



To discuss intelligently the fundamental purpose of these 

 annual exhibitions must be considered. In the wisdom of 

 the lawmakers, recognizing the supremacy of agriculture 

 and the dependence of all classes upon it, it has been deemed 

 expedient to incorporate, in the counties of this Common- 

 wealth, agricultural societies for the sole purpose of fur- 

 thering the interest in agricultural and allied mechanical 

 pursuits, by providing for annual exhibitions, where pre- 

 miums might be offered and paid on most meritorious animals 

 and articles. To advance agriculture and promote mechanics 

 was the purpose of the original act of the Legislature, and for 

 this the sum of $21,000 was last year appropriated to the 

 35 incorporated societies of Massachusetts, not to he distrib- 

 uted over the several counties, not to be used alone to 

 provoke competition, not to be paid out on inferior animals 

 or products, but in accordance with the original act to " ad- 

 vance " and " promote." 



It is perfectly safe to assert that under the committee sys- 

 tem of awarding prizes all thought of advancing or promot- 

 ing has dropped out of sight. Wherever the awards have 



