260 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The principle, moreover, is a bad one ; and, if ever estab- 

 lished, may lead to extremely troublesome legislation. It is 

 impossible that any law can be passed applicable to all animals, 

 crops, experiments, (tc, for which premiums are offered by the 

 various societies. They must be left to make their own regu- 

 lations in these matters, according to the convenience and 

 intelligence of each locality, and for the purpose of furnishing 

 all the information in their power. The receipt of bounty from 

 the Slate ought not to deprive them of that privilege and pre- 

 rogative ; inasmuch as the advantages to be derived from careful 

 and particular legislation with regard to them may by no means 

 compensate for the difficulties and troubles, and lose of interest 

 which it may create. 



There can be no doubt of the value of accuracy of information 

 with regard to the agricultural products of the State. But no 

 law can extract this from an unwilling people. A wide-spread, 

 general interest is important to every society, and wherever this 

 exists, much information can be obtained, which will be of 

 value to every inquiring agriculturist. And this interest is 

 considere to be one of the most important objects of our 

 societies, an object which is in every way worthy of tlie foster- 

 ing care of the Commonwealth. 



The committee would recommend the following resolve :— 



Resolved, That the fifteenth section of tlie Act relating to agricuhural 

 societies, cliapter G6, p. 378, General Statutes, requiring the weight of 

 all crops entered for premiuui, has proved to be burdensome on the one 

 band, and inoperative on the other; and that the State Board of Agi-i- 

 culture recoranaend its repeal, at the same time calling upon the several 

 agricultural societies in the State to obtahi accurate and careful informa- 

 tion upon the various modes of cultivating crops, and to make systematic 

 investigation into the amount produced, to be recorded in their annual 

 reports. 



George B. Loring, Chairman, 



S. H. BUSHNELL. 



The objection to the re(|uirements of tlie law on tlie score of 

 the extra labor on the part of competitors, has less weight than 

 would appear at fust sight, and so far as it has any weight 

 at all, it may l)c met by an offer of larger and more liberal 

 premiums on the part of the societies. 



