66 Transactions of the Essex 



REVIEWS. 



Art. I. Transactions of the Essex Agricultural Society for 

 1844. Vol. III. No. V. Published by order of the Society. 

 Parap. 8vo. pp. 110. Salem 1845. 



The part for 1844 of this report includes the Annual Ad- 

 dress by J. W. Proctor Esq. of Danvers and the reports of 

 the Committees awarding premiums for the year. 



Mr. Proctor's address is a retrospective view of the pro- 

 gress of agriculture in Essex County since the formation of 

 the Society ; and a merited compliment is paid to its first 

 president, the late Timothy Pickering. " I know of no man," 

 says Mr, Proctor, " unless I except Mr. J, Lowell of Rox- 

 bury, who did more to elevate the character of the farmer 

 and instruct him in his vocation." 



We might quote many interesting extracts from this 

 address if we had room. Mr. Proctor notices the plough, 

 and the improvements which had been made in its construc- 

 tion, — the introduction and value of the sub-soil plough, — the 

 improvement of our native stock, — the reclaiming of swamp 

 lands — the proper production and application of manures, — 

 and other subjects all interesting to the farmer. No one can 

 be insensible to the importance of plantations of trees for 

 timber, to take the place of the forests, which are so rapidly 

 disappearing in all parts of the country. Mr. Proctor has 

 not omitted to notice the inattention to this important subject, 

 and in connexion with it makes the following remarks, which 

 are so appropriate that we have made room for this extract : 



Curiosity led me a few weeks since to inquire for the plantation in Ham- 

 ilton, for which the State bounty of one hundred dollars was awarded about 

 forty-five years since. By the aid of a friend I found the place, but the 

 trees were few and far between. 



Were our Legislators entirely in the wrong in supposing the cultivation 

 of such trees to be a desirable object? Or does the mistake lie with the 

 proprietor of the soil ] That timber trees are indispensably necessary for 

 the convenience, prosperity and safety of the nation, will be admitted by all. 

 That they can be successfully cultivated, with proper attention applied, is 

 equally clear. Why then is it not done ? Why has it happened that all 

 the attempts have proved abortive ? In what manner could Essex farmers 



