296 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



labor-saving macliines. These are now multiplied to an almost 

 iiicalculaljle extent, and we believe it wouUl be time spent to 

 great advantiige, if agricultural societies, either independently 

 or in combination, wliere they are contiguous, would set aj^art 

 a day, at an earlier season than the anniuil cxhil)ition, for a 

 leisurely inspection and trial pf such machines and implements 

 as inventors and patentees are endeavoring to bring to public 

 notice and sale. One of the most distinguished farmers of the 

 Commonwealth once said, on being questioned respecting the 

 use of new and improved implements, that he had built several 

 barns for storing the thousand almost useless implements, which 

 he iiad been tempted to j)urchase by the assurance, backed by 

 many names, that they were really improvements. Now, if 

 such an examination, trial and comj)arison of implements 

 and machines, as we have suggested, could be had at diti'ercnt 

 places, it would benefit every farmer in the land ; save much 

 vexatious disappointment and expense ; and at least, allord 

 opportunity, to all interested, to select satisfactorily such as are 

 best adapted to their wants and their means. 



We noticed in the hall, several specimens of seed-giains of 

 different sorts and of great perfection — some of which were 

 raised and contributed by a gentleman who wortliily occupies a 

 seat at this Board and is a most cflicient member of the Hamp- 

 shire .Society. We regard the olfering of premiums for grain, 

 root and grass seeds, as wortiiy of being adopted by all agricul- 

 tural societies, and tending to eOect a general improvement in 

 the quality as well as quantity of the best farm crops. 



The quantity of stock exhibited was, for obvious reasons, 

 unusually small. In quality, however, it was good, and some 

 of a superior character. We noticed a beautiful herd of 

 Ayrshire cattle owned by L. Sweetser, Esq., formerly a mem- 

 ber of this Board. Among them was a cow five years old, 

 weighing 8(30 pounds, that had yielded, in twenty consecutive 

 days, a (quantity of milk equal to her own weight. Also a fine 

 j)aii' of grade short-horn oxen, five years old, weigliing 3,520 

 pounds ; and several other pairs of admirably well-trained 

 cattle — particularly a fine pair of steers trained by a lad under 

 sixteen years of age. But we must confess to a great disap- 

 j)ointmcnt of our expectations of seeing more and finer cattle 



