MR. perry's address. 19 



facilities which it would afford to the designs of this Society very 

 numerous. Some difficulties certainly present themselves to 

 this ohject, the greatest of which are those which the local cir- 

 cumstances of the county present, and the rotatory mode of holding 

 the annual exhibitions. These are certainly unfavorable circum- 

 stances so far as the subject proposed is concerned ; yet I think 

 not sufficiently so to prevent the carrying it into effect. A de- 

 pository placed in the centre or in either of the large towns, 

 could without great difficulty be visited from every part of the 

 county; and though of greater advantage to those living nearest, 

 would be of more advantage to the most remote than none ; im- 

 perfect and unequal in many things, but better than destitution. 



Horticulture is so much associated with the general principles 

 of the Society, and so interesting and profitable in itself, that I 

 will not pass over this opportunity of suggesting the expediency 

 of some efforts on your part to encourage a more general atten- 

 tion to it. Large portions of our citizens and professional 

 men, merchants, and mechanics, have or might easily have 

 small enclosures, which it would be much to their advan- 

 tage in point of property, health and morals, to cultivate. If 

 this were done in a neat and skilful manner, it would add greatly 

 to the appearance of their places, and spread over the county 

 many new attractions. A garden is a most lovely appendage to 

 a great farm, and is sure to affoid a double reward, in pleasure 

 and comfort, for every hour's labor spent in it. Those who 

 have never effectually tried the experiment, may profess to doubt 

 this observation, and farmers who keep no particular account of 

 their daily expenses, may say that they cannot afford time to 

 cultivate one. But experiment will produce the conclusion in 

 most minds which I know it did in one intelligent citizen of the 

 county, who said, ' before I tried, I thought I could not bear the 

 expense of a garden, but now lean hardly conceive howl bore 

 the expense of a family without one.' 



A general and thorough survey of the agricultural and manu- 

 facturing interest in the county is much needed, and this by 

 practical men. The object of a county society is to lay open 

 and improve its own resources ; to encourage attention to those 



