1835,] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



503 



For the best heifer under three years old — the 

 premium to Dr. William P. Moseley's Durham 

 and Hereford heifer Snow Ball. 



For the best fatted ox or cow — the first pre- 

 mium to Col. T. M. Bondurant's Red Cow. The 

 second premium to Mr. Price Perkin's Red Ox. 



For the best yoke of work oxen — the premium 

 to Robert Shaw, Esq. 



Sheep. For the best ram — the premium to Dr. 

 Win. P. Moseley. 



For the pen of six best ewes — the premium to 

 Col. T. M. Bondurant. 



Domestic fabrics. For the best suit of clothes 

 — the premium to Col. Jesse Holeman. 



For the best piece of negro winter clothing — the 

 premium to Col. T. M. Bondurant. 



For the best piece of carpetting — the premium 

 to Col. T. M. Bondurant. 



For the best specimen — the premium to Capt. 

 Win. N. Patteson. 



Horses. For the best thorough-bred filly under 

 two years old — the premium to Maj. James M. 

 Patteson's Empress by Tonson, dam by Archer. 



For the best brood mare, other than thorough- 

 bred — the premium to Maj. Granderson Mose- 

 ley's Woodlark, by Powhatan, dam by Cultivator. 



For the best colt or filly, other than thorough- 

 bred — the premium to Dr. Wm. P. Moseley's bay 

 filly, by Moderator, dam by Bolivar. 



For the best mule raised in the county, under 

 five years old — the premium to Maj. Granderson 

 Moseley. 



Resolved, That Col. Thomas M. Bondurant, Dr. 

 Wm. C. Moseley, Maj. Charles Yancey, Maj. 

 James M. Patteson and Col. Beverly A. Brown 

 be appointed to attend a proposed Agricultural 

 Convention in Richmond, sometime the ensuing 

 winter. 



Resolved, That the next annual meeting be held 

 at Mr. Robert Shaw's. 



Resolved, That the president elect be requested 

 to deliver an address upon the object and utility of 

 agricultural societies. 



Resolved, That the foregoing be sent to the 

 Farmers' Register for publication. 



Resolved, That this meeting do now adjourn. 



THOMAS M. BONDURANT, PREST. 

 G. N. MOSELEY, R. S. 



Address of Col. Thomas M. Bondurant, Presi- 

 dent of the Buckingham Agricultural Society, 

 delivered at its annual meeting, on the \5th Oct. 

 1835. 



Gentlemen: — At your last meeting a resolu- 

 tion was adopted, requesting your president to de- 

 liver an address on the "objects and utility of agri- 

 cultural societies." When I look over this intelli- 

 gent assembly, I perceive that it is composed of 

 those, who are much better qualified than I am 

 to discarge this duty — those who are able to im- 

 part information to me, instead of receiving interest 

 or instruction from any thing that I can say. 



This is the first annual meeting of the Buck- 

 ingham Agricultural Society, and my most ardent 

 wish is, that each succeeding anniversary may be 

 hailed with a deeper interest and a livelier zeal in 

 the cause of agricultural improvement. Could I 

 flatter myself, that my powers of mind were ade- 

 quate to grasp and exhibit in a proper point of 



view this great subject, and to impart to it those 

 attractive charms to which it is entitled, I should 

 enter upon the task assigned me with greater con- 

 fidence, and might be encouraged to hope to draw 

 some new votaries to its shrine. But I am con- 

 scious, that, from my limited abilities, I am unable 

 to present this subject in as imposing an attitude 

 as its importance demands. And when I take a 

 survey of the wide and extensive field before me, 

 I am almost tempted to shrink from the under- 

 taking; but, as it has been my course through life 

 never to shun any duty that might be required of 

 me, I shall, in a plain and brief, though I fear, an 

 unconnected and uninteresting manner, attempt to 

 perform the one which you have imposed upon 

 me. In the performance of this duty, 1 throw 

 myself upon your kindness and indulgence, trust- 

 ing that my zeal in a good cause may compensate, 

 in some degree, for my many imperfections. 



In speaking of the objects and utility of agri- 

 cultural societies, called for by your resolution, I 

 suppose, I may be permitted, as there is a close 

 connection between them, to speak of the prevail- 

 ing defects in agriculture, and to point out what I 

 may consider the remedy. This branch of the 

 subject is of the first magnitude, whether taken in 

 a physical, moral, political or national point of 

 view. To know the defects in the present sys- 

 tems, and to ascertain the remedies constitute the 

 main ends for which our association was organ- 

 ized. 



I will proceed in the first instance to speak of 

 the advantages resulting from the formation of ag- 

 ricultural societies, their objects and utility; next 

 the importance of the agricultural profession, com- 

 pared with other professions; and then point out 

 some of the material defects in the systems of ag- 

 riculture, and recommend a remedy. 



With regard to the objects and utility of agri- 

 cultural societies, it may be observed, that they 

 have a tendency to excite greater interest in im- 

 provement; to bring together the agriculturists of 

 the country, thus enabling them to compare their 

 views, so that the information possessed by one, 

 may become common to all. It is the formation 

 of a joint stock company, the dividends of which, 

 are to be drawn in the shape of increased know- 

 ledge on the great and interesting subject of agri- 

 culture. By your constitution, an annual contri- 

 bution is to be made to the fund of practical infor- 

 mation. From that valuable clause in our consti- 

 tution, requiring from each member an essay on 

 some subject, connected with agriculture, I expect 

 to receive much benefit, and that the public will 

 be laid under heavy obligations. Let this requisi- 

 tion be strictly complied with, and much good will 

 result, not only to the members, but to their 

 neighbors and to the county. It is a notorious 

 fact, that when one person begins to improve in 

 any neighborhood, others speedily see its advan- 

 tages, and are excited to follow his example. In 

 those different essays required of your members, 

 we shall not only have theory, but practice. Thus 

 each one pays his instalments into the common 

 stock, and meet together and draw their dividends 

 in a compound ratio as one to the whole number: 

 this cannot but be profitable stock. The dividends 

 which we shall draw, will be more than equal to 

 the requisitions made upon us; then this ought to 

 be a sufficient inducement to make us all punctual 

 in paying up our annual instalments. In a multi- 



