4T 



IIEPORT OF COjMMITTEE ON FARMS. 



The Committee appointed to ascertain the general condition and 

 prospects of agriculture in this County, make the following report : 



The object of this commission has not seemed to be fully under- 

 stood. It has been blended with that of the Committee on Farms ; 

 and as some individuals are members of both, there may be a con- 

 fusion in their respective reports. Mr. King, from whose charac- 

 ter, acquirements and position, great advantages might have been 

 expected, has not been able, by reason of the multiplicity of his 

 engagements elsewhere, to be present on several occasions when 

 we have visited different sections of the county. We lamented 

 this circumstance, as we had anticipated much assistance from so 

 distinguished a friend of agricultui-e. 



Another member of this Committee, a man of great practical 

 knowledge of farming operations, and deeply interested in the 

 progress of our Society, has been prevented by sickness from 

 taking such a share in the work assigned us as he would gladly 

 have assumed, — until the larger portion of the season had passed 

 away. The presence of both these gentlemen was indispensable to 

 the proper performance of our duties, and to the fulfilment of the 

 Society's expectations. 



Notwithstanding these discouragements, enough has been seen 

 and done to justify the appointment of this or some similar com- 

 mission. It furnishes the means of seeing many of the best farm- 

 ers in the County; learning their success and the methods by 

 which it was attained ; witnessing their experiments and results ; 

 collecting and diffusing a knowledge of various practices and opin- 

 ions ; forming an acquaintance with the different soils, capacities 

 and productions of different portions of the County ; studying the 

 relations between agriculture and the mechanic arts, in which so 

 many of our population are engaged ; all of which objects are vital 

 to the farming interests of the County. To be visited by such a 

 Committee gratifies many persons, who from choice or by necessity 

 seek retirement and are seldom seen from home, — men deserving; 

 of encouragement and capable of imparting much sound agricul- 



