1846.] Duties of Agricultural Societies, etc. 49 



and if their duties were faithfully performed, in pointing out the 

 formation of different localities, the necessity and best mode of 

 draining, &c., the knowledge thus obtained, taken in connection 

 with that presented by the former committee, would lead to greater 

 improvements in farming than all the cattle shows for half a cen- 

 tury. Indeed we have seen money enough expended in injudi- 

 cious ditching in a single year to defray the expenses of an in- 

 vestigating committee for three times that length of time. And still 

 greater losses are sustained by wholly neglecting fields that ought 

 to be drained. The third committee would be one of no less in- 

 terest or importance. Insects and worms are annually attacking 

 the crops and fruit trees of the farmer. And the injury they pro- 

 duce, often before their presence is known, or any remedy applied, 

 is not unfrequently very great. As a sample of this we may men- 

 tion the total destruction of the plum and cherry trees, in many 

 orchards, during the last few years, by the plum weevil, or rhync- 

 henus nerupha. A vigilant committee in every county, to watch 

 over and investigate every thing of this kind, would annually 

 save the loss of thousands of dollars worth of property in the state. 

 And yet the direct pecuniary gain derived from the labors of 

 such committees would constitute but a small share of the benefits 

 which would result to the farming community. The stimulus 

 which they would give to intellectual pursuits and the cultivation 

 of science, in connection with agriculture, would be of incalculable 

 advantage. For agriculture, like every other human employment, 

 can only be improved by improving the minds that control and 

 practise it. I know it will be said that the proposed committees 

 and investigations are impracticable, for the want of men in every 

 county suitably qualified for the work. But the rule, that the 

 supply is in proportion to the demand, is as applicable to men as 

 to articles of trade. Let the agricultural community make the 

 demand, and men of science will soon supply their wants. And 

 not only so, but the example will no sooner be set, than we shall 

 find the sons of our farmers as anxiously striving to qualify them- 

 selves for leading members of these investigating committees, and 

 thereby becoming as proud of the position of scientific farmers, 

 No. VII. 4 



