6 MR. perry's address. 



small value is cultivated, when a much better might be procured 

 with the same expense of labor or money. 



The same is true in respect to many implements of husbandry, 

 and even tools of the mechanic. Few employments make a great- 

 er demand upon the physical powers than farming. The call 

 for the improvements of skill, are therefore as urgent here as 

 they ever will be in any employment. In no business, however, 

 has the head done so little and left the hands so much to per- 

 form. The head has not however been slower in invention, than 

 has been the progress of knowledge of what has been devised, or 

 the disposition to adopt the improvements which have been 

 made. In various districts at no great remove, implements of 

 husbandry possessing distinct advantages above those in common 

 use are possessed, the employment of which, if not the know- 

 ledge of their existence, is confined to very limited circles. This 

 is particularly true in communities composed of emigrants from 

 different nations in a foreign country. The English, Scotch, 

 Irish, Dutch, Swedish and German settlers, are hardly better 

 distinguished by their language than by the form and nature of 

 their implements of husbandry. Among each of these commu- 

 nities may be found some implements ofpecuhar excellence, and 

 others partaking of very obvious defects. Yet the ill-contrived 

 of one very tardily give place to the more perfect of the other. 

 Prejudice may be among the causes. Ignorance that better are 

 in use is however the most general. 



The design of this society is to collect and diffuse knowledge 

 on these important and interesting subjects. How well calculat- 

 ed it is to do this, must be obvious to the most careless observer. 

 By its public meetings it draws men together from different 

 places, by its premiums it induces them to bring what they sup- 

 pose of peculiar excellence, it invites them to give a history of 

 their successful and unsuccessful efforts. In its exhibitions what 

 is deemed excellent by one is placed by the side of what is 

 thought excellent by another. Opportunity of inquiry, com- 

 parison, and trial are afforded, and thus all may select for 

 their own use what in their estimation possesses the fairest claims 

 to preferment. 



