14 MR. proctor's address. 



by reasonable appropriations for useful purposes, how 

 could our county societies better apply a part of the 

 means they may command if they wiil, than by perfect- 

 ing a plan so well conceived ? If nothing else could be 

 done, might they not require of each of the Trustees, 

 annually, an intelligent well digested statement of the 

 progress and produce of agriculture in their respective 

 towns. Taking care in the choice of these officers to 

 select those competent to the performance of this duty. 

 By so doing a mass of information would be accumulated, 

 that would richly repay the labor of obtaining it. Spe- 

 cimens of this kind of information may be seen in the an- 

 nual publication of the Commissioner of patents. But 

 it is impossible for one man, to survey the whole country 

 with that accuracy, to give entire confidence in his esti- 

 mates. Every town at least, should have its own agent, 

 well instructed in accumulating statistical information. 

 This is done in other branches of labor — why should it 

 not be done by the farmer ? Ask any farmer in this 

 house, how many tons of hay, or how many bushels of 

 corn, or what quantity of any other kind of produce, is 

 raised in his town, or in the county, and I doubt wheth- 

 er he will be able to answer you half right. There is 

 no want of ability among our farmers ; but there is a 

 degree of careless inattention to their own interests; a 

 disposition to go on as others have gone before them, 

 heedless of inquiry — that needs correction. Suppose 

 the merchant should conduct his business in this loose 

 way, where would he find himself, at the close of the 

 year ? Precision and accuracy are as necessary in farm- 

 ing as any other employment. 



The improvement of the animals with which our farms 

 are stocked, is a primary object of attention at our cattle 

 shows. To this a large proportion of the bounties of the 

 society are appropriated. From the farmer's stock, di- 

 rectly or indirectly, is derived a large portion of his in- 

 come. It theretbre is to him a matter of first importance, 

 that he have correct ideas on this subject. Much has 

 been wi'itten in relation to it, and, without doubt, opin- 

 ions have often been modified by interested considera- 



