484 MASS. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



upon knowledge, not of scientific knowledge alone, or of practi- 

 cal knowledge alone; but of both combined. It was the duty, 

 therefore, of (he Legislature, to encourage this thrift by spread- 

 ing knowledge among agriculturists. 



Mr. Nash, of the Hampshire Society, believed that common 

 sense and experience were of the first necessity, and to these, 

 science would lend the most valuable assistance. He did not 

 believe that practical farmers could become distinguished chem- 

 ists. But there are principles in the sciences of zoology, of 

 animal physiology, &:.c., which any person may acquire readily, 

 and apply in his every-day experience. Such a knowledge 

 may be obtained in a very short time — if the student be the 

 farmer's son, or the farmer himself is directed to the right 

 point. He would recommend a course of study from which 

 advantages might be received at once. In these requests to the 

 Legislature he would advise the friends of this cause to ask for 

 a small sum to try the experiment, and then, if " their works 

 did not praise them," they would ask for no more. He thought 

 that more than ^10 might be saved in each one of the 100,000 

 barn-yards in this State, by knowledge of a proper management 

 of the manure. Even at one dollar, $100,000 will be saved to 

 the State. The proposed grant of the Legislature would hasten 

 this result, at least, several years, and even if it hastened it but 

 one year, still as much or more would be saved as is asked for 

 by the friends of this cause. He said that by an application 

 of new treatment to a piece of land which he purchased, from 

 eight acres he had increased the crop of grass from three tons 

 to fifteen tons. He hoped the means of extending this knowl- 

 edge would be granted by the Massachusetts Legislature the 

 present session. 



Evening Session. 



The meeting was called to order at 7 o'clock. Lieutenant 

 Governor Cnshman offered the following resolution, which he 

 sustained in a few interesting and appropriate remarks: — 



Resolved, That the resolutions now under consideration be adopted, and that 

 the executive committee be directed to present the same to the Legislature, 

 and to urge such action by tliat body as may be thought most expedient to 

 carry into practice the principles contained in said resolutions. 



