48 Importance of correct. Vegetable Analysis; [July 



science and practice? It is well known that the efforts of many of 

 them are confined mostly to the getting up of an annual " Cattle 

 Show and Fair," and the annual election of officers. These exhibi- 

 tions have their utility ; they bring farmers together to compare their 

 products, and stimulate each other's ambition to excel, and should 

 therefore be continued. But may not their utility be greatly in- 

 creased by a little more attention? For instance, if every one 

 who presents an animal or a specimen of farm produce for exami- 

 nation was required to present with it a written statement of the 

 breed and manner of feeding in the first, and the kind and com- 

 position of the soil, mode of culture, manure used, &c., in the 

 second, how much would the interest and value of these exhibi- 

 tions be enhanced. And if all those accompanying articles on 

 which premiums were bestowed, should be filed in the office of 

 the secretary of the society, and published in the newspapers of 

 the county, we should soon not only accumulate an invaluable 

 store of facts, but the direct mental exercise thereby required 

 would have the happiest effect in promoting a more thorough 

 education throughout the farming community. 



But let these things be as they may, there are three points that 

 should receive the particular attention of every county society in 

 the state, viz.: first, an exact knowledge of the origin and compo- 

 sition of the soil, and farm products growing therefrom, within 

 their respective limits; second, a knowledge of the topography or 

 particular situation of the county, as respects hills, valleys, mois- 

 ture, dryness, marshes, streams, &c., &c. ; and third, a knowledge 

 of the insects and worms injurious to the vegetation, and the best 

 means of destroying them. Every agricultural society in the 

 country should have a standing committee on each of these sub- 

 jects, which should be required to report in writing at each annual 

 meeting; and, instead of bestowing all their funds in the form of 

 premiums, each society should reserve a small amount to defray 

 the necessary expenses of these committees. The first committee 

 should always contain at least one good chemist, who should care- 

 fully analyze every unusual specimen of soil or unknown vegeta- 

 ble. The second should have the services of a good geologist; 



