54 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Jan. 



weather, or carried on by horse-power. But, even 

 in dry weather, I question whether they will go at 

 two and a half miles per hour — the common speed 

 of a draft horse. But they must make some pre- 

 tense, other than that any know means under 

 heaven can make their rails useful ; so thvy set up 

 this hobby of pamphleteers and picture-makers, 

 and trust to the chapter of accidents to turn up 

 something else, if this fails them, v/hen actually 

 tried. Four miles an hour ! that is one tiling not 

 yet proved, hoM'ever. But another story has been 

 told to the deluded subscribers. They were to gal- 

 lop from Liverpool to Manchester at a speed which 

 the mail-coaches have attempted, but failed to ac- 

 complish ; and it is for this committee to say 

 whether they shall be swindled out of their money 

 on such impudent pretences, and whether Parlia- 

 ment shall disgrace itself by sanctioning a scheme 

 so wild, wasteful, absurd and reckless, for the sake 

 of filling the pockets of engineers and a multitude 

 of other leeches, who will get their pay, so long as 

 they condescend to work, whatever may be the 

 losses of those who furnish means to pay them." 



This extract is rather long ; but we think it has 

 a rich lesson for most of us. Our own opinions, 

 twenty years hence, may appear to others, as these 

 expressions now do to us. Their author, though a 

 lawyer, was probably sincere and decided in the 

 sentiments he uttered. Intelligent men then 

 talked in the same strain. Yet in fifteen or twen- 

 ty years after this gentleman stood before the par- 

 liamentary committee, arguing the impossibility of 

 going at all in rainy weather, and expressing his 

 opinion of the improbability, even in dry weather, 

 of the locomotive attaining a speed of two and a 

 half miles per hour, it was "galloping" at the "ex- 

 travagant speed," not of "twelve or even fifteen 

 miles an hour," but of seventy-eight ! 



Not quite as suddenlj', perhaps, as the locomo- 

 tive has done its work, but just as surely, we be- 

 lieve, will the "car" of agricultural improvement 

 pursue its way, till many of the opinions which now 

 block its wheels shall be ground into dust, or be 

 left behind, like those of our lawyer, to mark the 

 progress that shall have been made. 



It is, too, the interest of the livery-man to dis- 

 courage this mania for fast horses, and fast driv- 

 ing, for this it is, that, more than any one cause, de- 

 preciates his stock. I would have the horse-course 

 remain, and let. the managers of fairs encourage 

 by suitable premiums, the exhibition of the beauti- 

 ful and useful, in the display of both horses and 

 carriages on the course ; for what more innocent 

 and pleasant recreation for a family, parents and 

 children, than to jump into a fine carriage on a 

 pleasant daj-, and "draw the ribbons" over a steed 

 that is all life and animation ? And may not a taste 

 for this tend to draw away youth from other amuse- 

 ments of a more questionable nature ? 



This course, if adopted, might harmonize the 

 horse exhibitions with the other interests of the so- 

 cieties, and be found to draw quite as well with the 

 same effort. r. 



Remarks. — In discussing this subject, some of 

 our correspondents use the term "racing." There 

 may have been racing, strictly, in some cases, but 

 we are not aware of it. The matter, however, is 

 well enough understood, we suppose ; it means the 

 introduction of Jast horses, (and that term needs 

 no definition,) into the show grounds, and giving 

 them an undue preponderency, in premiums and 

 attention, over other branches of the exhibition. 



STATE BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. 



The State Board of Agriculture held two or three 

 meetings at its office at the State House last week, 

 Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, presiding. During 

 the discussion the subject of the exhibition of horses 

 at our county fairs was introduced, discussed, and 

 referred to a committee. V/e suppose the discus- 

 sion had special reference to the propriety and ex- 

 pediency of erecting trotting courses, for on the 

 question of introducing the Horse himself, there 

 can be but one opinion. 



The committee on crops and fertilizers made a 

 report relating their operations with various ma- 

 nures. There is an immense reservoir near the In- 

 ;titution at Westboro', which catches the water of 



