. MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 469 



The Berkshire Societies, as it appears to us, deal too much 

 in results, too little in causes. Their reports tell us who has 

 raised the best corn, and who the best wheat and rye; who has 

 exhibited the best cow, and who the best oxen. This is well, 

 but it is not enough. A large part of the premiums given to a 

 successful competitor, is given for diffusing the knowledge 

 which will aid another person in producing another specimen 

 like it. But this seems to be forgotten. The " what kind was 

 it?" and the "how was it produced?" are left out. There is 

 nothing tangible. The unsuccessful competitor and all the rest 

 of the world, are sent back to their farms, to feel their way 

 with such lights as their own observation and experience have 

 given them ; whereas they are entitled to all the light the re- 

 cipient of the society's bounty can give. If a premium is of- 

 fered for an essay, not only must the successful production be 

 given up and become the property of others, but it must be 

 published to the world. We would not take the farmer's wheat 

 and distribute it among others, but we would take the knowl- 

 edge by which it was raised, and scatter it broadcast through 

 the land ; and if he would keep his knowledge, we would keep 

 the silver. In reference to crops, there is always time enough 

 for the producer to make his statements, and the committee 

 their report, and if omitted there is no excuse for either. 



From those committees, whose work is on the show grounds, 

 where the entire afternoon must be spent in looking, and whose 

 report must be presented to the secretary, the next morning, 

 not very much, under present arrangements, should be demand- 

 ed beyond the award of premiums and the grounds on which 

 it was made. Absence from home and books, the noise and 

 bustle of a public house, and all the concomitants of a cattle 

 show, are, to the quiet farmer, not conducive to the preparation 

 of documents of great accuracy ; and reports prepared before 

 the specimens to be reported upon are seen, and kept on hand. 

 — as Cicero is said to have kept the introductions to his ora- 

 tions, — ready, with slight modifications, to be prefixed to an 

 award on horses, hogs, or hens, are esteemed but lightly. They 

 usually deal largely in "dewy lawns, and sparkling gems, and 

 meandering brooks, glowing under the effulgence of the pale 



