230 r.IONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



dom which such performances authorize and invite, and at the same time with 

 all the respect which is due to tliose under whose direction they are published. 

 In the mean time, as a matter of agricultural history, and of information to which 

 the public is entitled, we would feel obliged to the unfailing politeness of the Sec- 

 retary to state — the Act of Assembly which authorizes the publication of these 

 Transactions of the State Society — Does it specify the number to be published, and 

 the disposition to be made of them ? or leave both to the discretion of whom ? Are 

 they to be made up bona fide of the " Transactions" of the Society, or may they be 

 composed of any matter, at the discretion of the compilers ? and under whose 

 particular direction was the matter designated of which the last volume was 

 composed ? What was the whole number published ? at what cost per volume ? 

 and how have they been disposed of? To these inquiries, connected with a pub- 

 lic expenditure for agricultural purposes, it is hoped there can be no objection — 

 while it is due to frankness to state explicitly that so little of public patronage 

 is bestowed on a branch of industry which supports all others, as the tree on 

 which it grows supports the mistletoe, that we feel a jealous anxiety that that 

 little shall be so expended as to achieve the greatest possible augmentation of 

 the agricultural capabilities of the State, This feeling of anxiety has been dem- 

 onstrated by the labors of not a short lifetime ; and being altogether,' thank 

 Heaven ! unconnected with and far above all alloy of pecuniary or self interest, 

 will not be deemed out of place on this occasion. We should be glad, also, if 

 the Secretary would have the kindness to specify the number of each of the books 

 and publications distributed as premiums by the Slate Society and the County 

 Societies, designating each work by its title and the cost per copy ; and that 

 when foreign editions have been given, the fact and their cost per copy may be 

 stated. It is deemed best and most respectful to make these requests public, as 

 the results are designed for public information, and exclusively for their bearing 

 on the cause and interests of Agriculture. We have no doubt of the liberal in- 

 terpretation of our views of the excellent Secretary of the Society, and of his co- 

 operation, as far as respects the communication of facts to be ascertained by ref- 

 erence to the archives of the Society. 



Before closing this hasty but grateful acknowledgment of the kind offer to fur- 

 nish us with any information, and the invitation to communicate freely in relation 

 to any matters on which we may desire to be informed, we will take the occasion 

 here at once to say that, according to our humble judgment, the measure which, 

 as we see in this volume of the Transactions, admits the Ex-Presidents of the 

 Society, ex officio, as acting members of the Executive Committee, to whom is 

 intrusted the whole administration of the policy, funds and affairs of the Society, 

 ts decidedly wrong and unjustifiable. It might be well to give them honorary 

 seats and privileges on public occasions, but for an equal participation of govern- 

 ment, and control of the proceedings of the Society, is to accumulate power in 

 perpetuity in the same hands, contrary to the spirit in which all our institutions 

 are organized and conducted. We shall, however, maintain our views on this, 

 as on all other questions, most respectfully toward all who differ with us— pity- 

 ing the narrow-mindedness of all, if any, who can find in an honest and inde- 

 pendent difference of opinion, matter for personal umbrage or ill will. 



All measures conceived in a high and proper public spirit, as those of this 

 Society, may be presumed to court rather than shun close and respectful crit- 

 icism. The Secretary of such institutions should be carefully selected and re- 

 tained, but the direction should be in a certain proportion changed every year, 



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