304 Third Annual Repot^ 6fc. 



the purpose of comparison and further researches ; while another group 

 is discussing the value of various grasses, grains, and other vegetahle 

 products, — and what, my friends, is the general result of all this inter- 

 change ? Scarcely a single man goes home whhout having learned some- 

 thing useful ; many learn much, others little, but all are gratified : all 

 look at such meetings, with satisfaction in those that are past, and with 

 hope in those that are to come. What is the final end of this mass of 

 ideas collected in one spot? It is this, — it becomes a matter of history ; 

 these ideas are winnowed out, the chaff is scattered to the four winds of 

 heaven, but the heavy valuable seed is sown in the mind, and produces, 

 some twenty, some forty, and some an hundred fold. Such is the scene 

 I have endeavored faintly to sketch to you, although its results are far 

 more extensive than I can lay before you ; for the mere personal intro- 

 duction to each other of those who attend these meetings, is productive of 

 the greatest good. I have been chiefly engaged in my leisure hours in 

 that minor branch of agriculture, called horticulture, and have always 

 found that the greatest stimulant to the gardener was the examination of 

 his neighbor's garden ; his practised eye would always, silently perhaps, 

 but surely, detect where he was wanting, and where he could improve. 

 So at these meetings, farmers are stimulated to visit each other's farms, 

 to view the various processes going on, to take examples from the superior 

 neatness and cleanliness in the barns, fences, tools, &c. &c. 



And there is certainly nothing which so much advances a man in the 

 estimation of all around him, as order, cleanliness and system in practical 

 farming ; nor is there anything in the whole routine of agriculture, more 

 important or finally more productive than attention to these points ; emu- 

 lation, in which these meetings are eminently calculated to produce. Per- 

 mit ms, therefore, to impress on your attention the great value of these 

 agricultural associations, and to call on every individual to afford to them 

 his most hearty countenance and support ; for there is no pursuit in which 

 every member of the community has so direct an interest as agriculture. 

 The quantity, and what to many in civilized life is of as much consequence, 

 the quality of our daily food , is entirely dependent on the successful efforts 

 of the farmer. Within the last ten years, there has been certainly con- 

 siderable improvement in the quality of beef and mutton, and particularly 

 of butter, and not only this, but the quantity of these good articles has 

 materially increased, so as to bring them within reach of moderate in- 

 comes. In the neighborhood of Boston, for instance, I have observed 

 even within the last two years a manifest improvement in the quality 

 of veal, owing, I believe, to introduction of superior breeds. Almost 

 all these may, I think, be referred to the influence of agricultural meet- 

 ings and associations ; therefore those who are not farmers, in subscrib- 

 ing to and in countenancing them, do but increase their own personal and 

 domestic comforts, while at the same time they are benefiting the whole 

 country. 



The report, if published for sale, should he in tiie hands 

 of every agriculturist. 



