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other circumstances, into some different specialty, and, by apply- 

 ing his skill and labor mainly to that, may arrive at similar results. 



We hear of the surprising excellence of certain agricultural ex- 

 hibitions abroad — of their pre-eminence in various classes of ani- 

 mals, or in different sorts of vegetable or cereal products. And 

 "we attribute this superiority to the more minute division of the 

 objects of pursuit, and the close attention bestowed upon some 

 specific branch of culture. With like limited pursuits, and like 

 concentration of skill and labor, on the part of its members, we 

 do not see why the exhibitions of this Society might not acquire 

 equal distinction, and, with reason, attract equal attention from 

 abroad. 



Unity of purpose and harmony of feeling are essential to the 

 prosperity of anj* association, and to none more than our own. 

 The varying demands of the times, the different dispositions and 

 habits of the community, under different circumstances, will re- 

 quire occasional changes in the mode of conducting agricultural 

 exhibitions. They cannot now be i-egarded solely as opportuni- 

 ties for the instruction of the community in the best management 

 of a farm, and best methods of cultivation. They are the farmer's 

 gala days. They are among the few best holidays in our usages, 

 for the recreation of large classes of the people. Some provision, 

 therefore, for the amusement of the people, may very reasonably 

 be made. And, while nothing is allowable or admitted, which 

 will necessarily tend to injure public morals, or to endanger the 

 reputation and general prosperity of the Society, individual opin- 

 ion should yield to the general feeling ; personal distaste or dis- 

 like to the common good. Whatever plan is adopted with good 

 intent, and after deliberate consideration, by the major part of the 

 Society, or their agents, ought to be upheld and carried out 

 heartily by the whole. 



The exhibition and trial of horses, famed and valued for their 

 speed, which has become an almost universal practice in our own 

 and other States, is objected to by many of the most candid 

 judges and sincere well-wishers to our Society and to the cause of 

 agricultural improvement. They regard it as a dangerous inno- 

 vation upon the original purpose of agricultural exhibitions. 

 They believe it attracts chief attention at these exhibitions, and 

 prevents the due notice of other objects of much greater general 

 importance. They fear that the practice is injurious to the public 

 morals, and to the continuance and usefulness of agricultural so- 

 cieties. Horse racing, and the breeding and training of horses 

 for that purpose, is something, they say, entirely aside from the 

 legitimate object of these societies, and ought never to be encour- 

 aged by them. 



We confess to a strong sympathy with this class of objectors. 



