MR. proctor's address. 13 



may be explained, in part, by the fact that many of our 

 most enterprising farmers have already been competi- 

 tors, and therefore do not feel at liberty again to pre- 

 sent their farms ; and by the apprehension of others, 

 that their farms will not bear a comparison with those 

 that have been exhibited. Such apprehensions should 

 not be indulged. He that ha,th one talent, and proper- 

 ly uses it, is entitled to as much credit as he that hath 

 ten. Certain am I, that it has ever been the desire of 

 those who distributed these premiums to regard with 

 favor the smaller competitors. 



This plan of offering premiums was for several years 

 adopted by the State Society ; — and more than once 

 have their first premiums been awarded to farms in 

 Essex, and to those too, which had not been brought 

 forward in their own county. Within a few years an 

 intelligent agent* has been in the employ of the State 

 Society, to personally inspect such farms as may be pre- 

 sented to his notice, and to report such things as may 

 be found of value. If our fiirmers are still to be so dif- 

 fident as to be unwilling to come forward with their 

 statements and their claims, is it not worthy the consid- 

 eration of the Trustees, wdiether some plan of this kind, 

 of condensing information, could not be advantageously 

 adopted? Beyond all question, there are within the 

 knowledge of many of our flirmers facts and processes of 

 tillage, of great value and importance to be known. And 

 so they will remain from generation to generation, until 

 their diffidence is removed, or their enclosures are entered 



Who that has ever read the valuable documents given 

 to the public by the late commissioner on agriculture in 

 Massachusetts, but has regretted that mistaken economy., 

 that compelled him to cut short his labors in the midst, 

 before the work was half completed ? True economy 

 takes into view the object as well as the amount expen- 

 ded ; — and it oftentimes is the wisest economy to appro- 

 priate liberally, w^hen the object is of unquestionable 

 utility. If our legislators are to be so much more anx- 

 ious to retain their own seats, than to benefit the public 



* Hon. Morrill Allen, of Pembroke. 



