No. 216.] 43 



PREMIUMS AWARDED. 



To James Clark, for the best plowing. Silver cup. 



Joseph Swannell, for the second best plowing. Silver medal. 

 John Brewster, for the third best plowing. Diploma. 



The Spading Match excited much interest among the spectators. 

 The quantity of ground to be spaded was 20 feet long and 10 feet 

 wide. 



The judges were — Messrs. Nicholas Wyckoff, Wm. K. Townsend, 

 and John B. Sands. 



PREMIUIWS AWARDED. 



To Joseph P. Lodge, for the best spading. Silver cup. 



Richard Marry, for the second best spading. Silver medal. 

 James Wilson, lor the third best spading. Diploma. 



Agriculture may be defined the art and science of so cultivating 

 the earth as to make it produce the greatest quantity of the most 

 nutritious food, for the support of man and beast. It has according- 

 ly been invested wuth almost a sacred character, and been practiced 

 and held in the highest estimation by ail the nations of antiquity 

 with whose history we are conversant. Considering that on agricul- 

 ture is based the entire fabric of human civilization and subsisttnce, 

 it has the predominance over all other occupations to which the 

 efforts and industry of man can be directed. It constitutes the source 

 or basis on which both commerce and manufactures are founded: 

 it furnishes the only source of subsistence for the progressing multi- 

 plication of our species, which increase in a geometrical ratio, while 

 the products of the earth are only to be multiplied in an arithmetical 

 ratio. Does it not, then, become the duty, the incumbent duty, of 

 every philanthropist, to ascertain and devise every means for its ad- 

 vancement? 



An increase of products becomes absolutely necessary to supply 

 the increased demand which takes place in our country, not only from 

 the increase of population by our own natural means, but the im- 

 mense emigration which flows and will continue to flow to our free 

 and happy country, from the dense and oppressed population of 

 foreign countries; and more especially since wars have almost ceased 

 among tl em, and their present population so great as to press on 

 the means of obtaining even a partial subsistence — such as is now 



