100 PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. 



of that labor, will operate as great discouragements to engage- 

 ment in such enterprises. But the importance of them to the 

 prosperity of those who will succeed us must abundantly jus- 

 tify keeping the subject before the farmers, and urging them to 

 do something for the relief of posterity from a burden which 

 may prove too heavy for them. 



This Society early encouraged the planting of hedges, in offer 

 of premiums. Those offers commanded no attention. And the 

 time may not have arrived now, when this kind of improvement 

 can be much advanced by proposing premiums. But no time 

 should be lost in preparing the minds of farmers to realize the im- 

 portance of the subject, in calling their attention to the burdens 

 which even now bear very heavily on those who support post 

 and rail fences, and earnestly inviting them to consider well 

 what must be the difficulties posterity will have to encounter, 

 if no substitutes be provided. Among the applicants for pre- 

 miums this year, we have found a number of ingenious experi- 

 menters, men whose zeal insures them something of improve- 

 ment. With several of them, however, zeal has carried their 

 attention to more objects than they could well accomplish. 

 They have done something in various experiments proposed, 

 and hope the trustees will not require of them a strict com- 

 pliance with prescribed rules. Dispensing with given rules is 

 always of dangerous tendency, and might be practised to an ex- 

 tent which would entirely defeat the most important purposes 

 of the association. The committees take pleasure in giving re- 

 wards to successful and meritorious labors, but in all their doings 

 think it incumbent on them to consider what means are the 

 most likely to bring the greatest amount of meritorious labor 

 into the field in future years. 



To the Committee on Improvements three claims have been 

 presented for the renovation of swamp land. This we regard 

 as one of the best objects for which premiums are paid, but 

 think claims are sometimes made for the renovation of too small 

 pieces of land. The first premium of $15 is awarded to Joseph 

 Kingman, of West Bridgewater. He has reclaimed one acre 

 and nineteen rods. The second of $10 to Josiah Whitman, of 

 East Bridgewater. To George W. Wood, a gratuity is awarded 



