37 



We are not aware that the reports on these subjects have yet 

 been made public. If the experiments were properly conducted, 

 the results could not fail to be interesting and vahiable. We 

 would suggest that they be reported for the Transactions of this 

 Society, in order that the public may know the conclusions arriv- 

 ed at, and the manner in which the experiments were conducted. 

 We would suggest, also, that the experiments be repeated from 

 year to year, until a succession of results may indicate a reliable 

 solution of the questions involved. 



About two hundred persons, comprising the members of the 

 Club with their families and invited guests of both sexes, attended 

 the festival alluded to. The company partook of a substantial 

 dinner, after which appropriate speeches were made by various 

 gentlemen — the exercises being agreeably interspersed with rural 

 songs. The occasion was a pleasant, and we trust, a profitable 

 one, to all present. 



The Committee may here say that they have great confidence 

 in the usefulness of farmers' clubs, under judicious management. 

 Their advantages have long been acknowledged in England and 

 Scotland — some of the most important improvements in agricul- 

 ture in those countries, having originated with these associations. 

 In our own country they have not been numerous till within a few 

 years, but their benefits are already apparent. We need not enter 

 into an argument to show lioiv they tend to improve the " soil and 

 the mind" — the fact is obvious to all who properly consider the 

 subject. We would suggest to the Society the expediency of of- 

 fering special encouragement to farmers' clubs, by a premium to 

 such as should exhibit proof of having brought out the most valu- 

 able results, in the solution of questions, the suggestion or attain- 

 ment of improvements, or in any way eliciting hght in the various 

 departments of agriculture. 



On leaving the table at the festival above spoken of, the com- 

 pany was invited to look at some improvements of land by C. L. 

 Metcalf, a member of the Club. The land comprises several acres 

 lying on both sides of a brook, a portion of it having, till lately, 

 been considered " poor old pasture," and the remainder being more 

 or less boggy. The price paid for the tract, about three years 

 ago, was ten dollars an acre. Ditches have been cut around and 

 through a portion of the bog ; on the softest parts gravel has 

 been spread, the surface smoothed, and grass seed sowed, Avith a 

 dressing of 250 pounds of Peruvian guano to the acre. The first 

 so prepared has been mowed twice, in 18;VJ and '(30 — though it 

 has had only one application of guano. The last crop was esti- 

 mated at three tons to the acre, but may have been somewhat 

 overrated, as it is well known that crops on low land are not as 

 heavy in proportion to their bulk as upland hay ; but the luxuriant 

 growth of the second crop, — which at the time of the visit of the 



