404 • BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



evil effects of self-fertilizatiou." The plan of the experiments 

 seems so simple and obvious, as to have been thought of by 

 any one. Herein we perceive the beauty of it, for it is the 

 art of experimenting, to bring to our operations simplicity, 

 and make the reason for our course plain. The plan followed 

 by Darwin, was to plant on opposite sides of small pots, in 

 pairs, crossed and self-fertilized seed, to exclude insects 

 from them, and to subject them to the same conditions. He 

 had but to await upon nature daily, and observe the vigor of 

 the several plants, each struggling for itself, and calling on 

 the other to answer the question he had set before himself to 

 solve. 



Now, such efficient and convincing experiments as those 

 here referred to, require of us not more time than is often 

 consumed on such as are not satisfying. They are of a kind, 

 too, that bring their own compensation, since we have the 

 satisfaction of reflecting, that our work will not have to be 

 reviewed by another, with the likelihood that it will be thrown 

 aside, as so much waste material. Let us, in our agricultural 

 inquiries, adopt the presumption that the premises for many 

 current statements need to be experimentally inquired into, 

 with all the clear-headedness to devise the proper method of 

 procedure, united to the persevering steadfastness, that we 

 honor in those, who, with their telescopes, follow the course 

 of the planets, or in the smaller field of the microscope, inform 

 us of the measure and motion of the minutest form of animal 

 organism. Would it not be a worthy thing to do, for persons 

 who see nothing commonplace in agriculture, when actually 

 taken into the possession of a mind willing to give its best 

 services, to associate themselves with the avowed object of 

 introducing the methods of science into agricultural inquiries? 



Joseph N. Sturtevant, 



For the Committee. 

 The Report was accepted. 



Mr. Graves, from the committee appointed to consider 

 and report upon any changes that may be required in the 

 times of holding exhibitions, reported that the Barnstable 

 shall hereafter begin its exhibition on the third Tuesday of 



