SECRETARY'S REPORT. 259 



A ballot having- been taken, it was found that Messrs. Wilder, 

 Walker, Clark, Stockbridge, and Sewall had a majority of 

 votes, and were elected. 



Some complaint having been made that the law requiring the 

 weighing of the whole crop of grain, roots, etc., entered for the 

 premiums of the agricultural societies was burdensome and 

 inoperative, the subject was referred to a committee, which 

 presented the following 



REPORT: 



The committee appointed to consider the act passed by the 

 legislature, of 1859, with reference to obtaining the weight of 

 crops entered for premium with the agricultural societies in the 

 State, would respectfully report : — 



That, in their opinion, the law in question imposes unneces- 

 sary burdens upon the farmers of the Commonwealth, without 

 securing the object intended by its passage. In judging of the 

 quality of a crop, and of its claims for premium, it is not the 

 weight alone which enters into consideration. The mode of 

 cultivation, the expense of the crop, the profit to be derived from 

 it, the condition of the land, both before and after the crop; the 

 time of seeding and of gathering, the uniformity of the crop 

 throughout the field, all come into the true estimate of its 

 value to the producer, and to the student of agriculture. 

 These things must be judged of, not under legal compulsion, 

 but by the intelligence of the committees called to view the 

 crops, aided by such information as the farmer can readily 

 bestow. 



There seems to be no reason wliy, in obtaining this informa- 

 tion, the business of the farmer should be interfered with. It 

 may be impossible for him to weigh accurately the crop he 

 enters. He may have no conveniences for such a purpose. 

 He may be compelled by the weather to gather his crop in 

 haste. It may be important for him to dispose of it, before the 

 ascertaining of its weight would be of any service. He may 

 be delayed in threshing (if a grain crop) beyond the time of 

 decision. And the society with which he enters it may be 

 obliged to hold extra sessions at unseasonable times, in order to 

 declare its premiums ; and when all is done, the most valuable 

 part of the desired information is omitted. 



