FARMS. 163 



tlie best results of a year's work, we should have an exhibition 

 that would gratify our pride and promote our cause. Acting 

 upon the principle of doing one's best, the farmers would be 

 incited to read and study, to understand and apply the laws of 

 nature to the operations of farming ; and in each department 

 of their business to acquire the knowledge essential to success. 

 And in this way would be amply repaid for their extra trouble, 

 whether they received premiums or not. 



Besides these immediately personal considerations, farmers 

 who attend the fair and participate in its exercises would learn 

 the importance of acting together, and of uniting their means 

 and information and efforts for the furtherance of their art. 

 Every other class of men finds its account in acting upon the 

 principle of association. They combine their respective forces, 

 have stated meetings, compare notes, give and receive informa- 

 tion, adopt general modes of action, and thus form and diffuse 

 a common spirit that contributes to tlie common welfare. 



It would increase the benefits of the fair, if each contributor 

 would present a written statement of the process pursued in 

 raising his crop or stock. For some articles, such a statement 

 is now required ; but the premium is sometimes lost for want of 

 the statement ; or else the statement is very brief and defective. 

 Applicants do not always appreciate the importance of details ; 

 whereas these are the all-important matters. Those who are 

 interested in agricultural aflairs, want to know the precise 

 details respecting soil, seeds, treatment, methods of feeding 

 stock, &c. Many people believe that guano is a good article of 

 manure. They want to know how good it is, how to compost 

 it, in what quantity to use it, at what times, for what crops, on 

 what soils, and in what proportions to each. So of feeding 

 fatting cattle, how long grass-fed, how long stall-fed, on what 

 food, how much hay and roots, mixed in what proportions, and 

 what has been found to be generally profitable. And this with 

 a view to answer the question, what does a pound of beef or 

 pork cost the farmer ? Or a bushel of corn, or a gallon of milk, 

 or pound of butter ? Written statements, made with care and 

 based on actual knowledge, would go far towards settling defin- 

 itely many vexed questions. A selection from these statements 

 might be published in the Transactions, and the results of indi- 



