396 NORFOLK SOCIETY. 



pressing their belief, that they will stand the test of trial, and 

 finally acquire a reputation by experience equal to that which 

 they acquired by observation. 



These comprised the whole exhibition of agricultural imple- 

 ments. Formerly it was the custom of manufacturers of and 

 dealers in these articles, to send liberal contributions to the 

 various county shows, which tended to add interest to the 

 latter and to increase their attraction ; as nothing can be more 

 appropriate at an agricultural exhibition than those implements 

 which are the symbols of that great and almost universal em- 

 ployment. The trouble and expense, however, of contributing 

 to the numerous annual exhibitions was at length considered 

 to be more burdensome than profitable, and an agreement was 

 entered into on the part of the manufacturers to withhold their 

 contributions. It is not for the committee to question the 

 competency of these parties to conduct their business in the 

 most profitable manner ; but it seems not unreasonable to sup- 

 pose that in a business so progressive as that of the manufac- 

 ture of agricultural implements, there should be enough im- 

 provements in the old, and enough inventions of new ones, to 

 make up a respectable show annually, of such as are worthy 

 of inspection, which have not before been generally adopted, 

 and which have not passed the ordeal of a public and critical 

 examination. The farmer and agricultural implement maker 

 are mutually bound together by the strongest ties of interest, 

 and the same stimulus which promotes the advancement of 

 the one, operates equally to the advantage of the other. 



Agricultural organizations and cattle shows, serve to awaken 

 the attention of farmers to the necessity of employing all the 

 aids which mechanical skill and invention can supply, and 

 thereby increases the demand on that skill, and every aid 

 which the latter can contribute to the success or prosperity of 

 the former, is so much contributed to its own. And' it is ob- 

 served that while the manufacturers and dealers are withhold- 

 ing that aid which they formerly bestowed upon the annual 

 shows, they are not unmindful of the advantage to be derived 

 from the ploughing matches, and seem still to take a peculiar 

 and warm interest in having those instruments which are for- 

 tunate enough to secure premiums carefully recorded by their 

 names and titles, together with the names of their manufactu- 



