14 



Gentlemen of the Society, 



Before we separate, the occasion requires that I 

 suggest for your consideration several matters, that 

 anerit examination and experiment, It is apparrent 

 for several years past, that our husbandry has been 

 inclining to grazing rather than to tillage. The high 

 price of labor, has unquestionably contributed chiefly 

 to this change. The consequence is a diminution of 

 the products of tillage, and a gradual rise of the pri- 

 ces in the market. Hence this county, as well fitted 

 by nature for the production of white crops as any o- 

 ther in the same latitude, has annually sent abroad 

 large sums of money for flour and grain. 



During this period, the population of the county 

 has considerably increased, and of that population a 

 larger proportion has exchanged its employments in 

 agriculture for manufacturing. These changes have 

 not suflUciently attracted attention. The period has 

 arrived, when the interest and prosperity of the coun- 

 ty demand, that our rural concerns should be conform- 

 ed to this new state of society. It is precisely the 

 course of events which has happened in every coun- 

 try in its progressive advancement, through the vari- 

 ous stages of improvement ; and at such a period, 

 and in such a state of things, good sense, which al- 

 ways leads to correct results, has discovered and ap- 

 plied the remedy. It consists in varying the husband- 

 ry from grazing to tillage, and adopting a free use of 

 the jjIow, attended with ample manuring, a rotation of 

 crops, and faithfully stocking the land with suitable 

 grasses. This course will furnish a complete remedy 

 for the privations and losses attending the pastural 

 state of farming. Experience has demonstrated, that 

 by no other course can a numerous population be sus- 

 tained, manufactures be prospered, or any considera- 

 ble commerce be expected. These remarks are all 

 exemplified in the kingdom of Great Britain, where 

 tillage is advanced of every other country, and sus- 

 tains a wonderful and increasing population, and is 

 piade the basis of the n^ost extensive manufactures 



