392 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



appear to it to he appropriate and useful. Each annual report 

 of the Board should spread abroad some thought and materials 

 for thought that, germinating in the minds of our citizens of 

 the farm, are calculated to elevate the standard of, and infuse 

 vigor into, the numerous local societies. 



Proposed National Academies. 



Our numerous agricultural societies in general are to be 

 regarded as important agencies in maintaining and advancing 

 the agricultural prosperity of the State. Their influence is 

 felt by the individual, and is incorporated in his practices ; but 

 there is no means of estimating, by referring to any stand- 

 ard, the measure of their usefulness. 



They undoubtedly promote and keep alive activity of 

 thought. To get people to thinking is half way to getting 

 them to think aright. Then they occasion improvement in 

 domestic animals, new tools, varieties of fruits and vegetables, 

 etc., to become known to all very rapidly upon their becom- 

 ing known to any. With these agencies, neighboring com- 

 munities are not likely to possess themselves of, and derive 

 advantage from, such improvements in advance of ourselves. 

 A want of intercourse among persons having like interests 

 must occasion an inequality that is needless in their cir- 

 cumstances. 



The mission of our societies appears to be mainly to dissem- 

 inate a knowledge of what one man has to many, that they 

 may wish to have the same, so that what is very excellent 

 may become commonplace and freely enjoyed. And it would 

 seem that to carry on experiments in agriculture, to advance 

 agricultural knowledge, in a sense different from that of dif- 

 fusing what we have, among men, are works of too great 

 difficulty, and are not compatible with the loose and feeble 

 organization and popular character of these societies. 



But yet not to have the varied aims, to confine themselves 

 to a distribution of information, as at the annual fair, is only 

 to do a part of what the modern world demands. It calls for 

 invention, new ideas, new explanations ; in a word, calls for 

 high intellectual efforts. Having thirty-one agricultural soci- 

 eties, occupying but one-half the field, and as, from their 



