HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 93 



engaged, for centuries, in devising rules by which their corn 

 laws should be regulated, varying and changing to meet the 

 real or supposed state of the markets, causing plenty or scarcity 

 as the chance policy of such a system must always do. The 

 farmer holds on his way by steady steps, regarding a sys- 

 tem of laws established and carried forward by a lawgiver 

 whose laws do not change to meet the varying, selfish, short- 

 sighted views of politicians. The farmer's code is not only sta- 

 ble, but is based on the sure and certain promise, that he who 

 tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread. In this promise, he 

 puts his confidence. His duty is to regard it, his custom to 

 practise in conformity to it, and his protection is in its fulfil- 

 ment. 



M. DOOLITTLE, Chairman. 



Fruits and Vegetables. 



The Committee notice, with much pleasure, an increased and 

 growing interest in this subject. Every man is more or less in- 

 terested in the raising of fruit ; every body eats it, every body 

 likes it ; and, since the best fruit requires no more labor in its 

 production than the poorest, every man has only to decide for 

 himself whether what he raises shall be good or poor. The 

 raising of fruit is a source of profit more sure and permanent 

 than many crops that are constantly cultivated. Many persons 

 seem unwilling to believe that the product of a single fruit tree 

 often equals that of two, three or four acres of corn. The time 

 has come when premiums should be offered by the Society and 

 awarded to new sorts of fruit, to the finest specimens of those 

 already known, to the best collections of vegetables, and to the 

 most beautiful displays of flowers. If this suggestion were 

 carried out, we confidently anticipate, that from this fertile val- 

 ley we should have, every year, one of the finest exhibitions of 

 fruits which could be found in New England. 



C. A. HALL, Chairman. 



