AN ESSAY 



ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRICULTURAL LIBRA- 

 RIES, BY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



BY ALLEN W. DODGE. 



Among the measuras adopted by agricultural societies to promote 

 the objects fur which thej are instituted, it is not a little remarka- 

 ble that agricultural libraries should have been so generally over- 

 looked. That they are within the legitimate province of these so- 

 cieties, so that a small portion of their funds might be annually ap: 

 propriated for their establishment and increase, can hardly be ques- 

 tioned. The only subject for consideration would seem to be, whether 

 the benefits to be derived from such Ubraries, would justify the ex- 

 penditure. 



It may be said, in the first place, in favor of this enterprise, it 

 will disseminate agricultural knowledge. The object of these asso- 

 ciations is to advance the cause of agriculture. To this end, pre- 

 miums are olfered to induce experiments to ascertain things un- 

 known or doubtful, and to excite greater skill in the execution of 

 what is already well understood. The results, as recorded in the 

 Transactions of this Society, are justly deemed as one of its best 

 features, and as giving it a reputation of no ordinary distinction. It 

 is because it thus contributes to the fund of agricultural knowledge, 

 that its labors are so highly appreciated. It so much, then, is done 

 by this Society in diffusing its own knowledge among others, may it 

 not confer an equal benefit on its own members by procuring knowl- 

 edge from abroad, to be circulated at home ? There is propably a 

 vast amount of agricultural information now lost to the reading farm- 

 ers of the County, for no other reason than that they have not the 

 means to obtain it. Cheap as are books, they cost a large sum in 

 the aggregate, larger than most farmers can afford ; and for this 

 reason they have often to deny themselves the advantages to be de- 

 rived from them. If this be true, would not this Society and kin- 

 dred associations discharge their high trust, with a wise and liberal 

 "forecast, by laying the foundation of a library to supply, free of cost, 



this demand for agricultural reading. 



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