1** 



I860.] 



THE SOUTIIEKN PLANTEK, 



431 



inj?, out houses, gate-ways, and 



grounds, 



$30 



Judges : 



Prof. T. H. Williamson, Lexington. 

 Cliarles Bruce, Charlotte. 

 Robert A Mayo, Henrico. 

 Richard Y. Watkins. Halifax. 

 Dr. Charles C Cocke,' Fluvanna. 



Class 86. — Minerals of Virginia. 



482. Best collection and largest 

 variety of specimens of Virginia 

 minerals, $30 



Judges : 



Prof S. Maupin, University of V a. 

 Prof. J. L. Campbell, Wash. College. 

 Prof R. J. Morrison, Wm. & M. Col. 

 Prof P. Lee Powell, Richmond. 

 Prof. Wm. ailham, \2l. Mil. Institute. 



Class 87. — Trials of Ploughs and Plough- 

 ing Match. 



483. Best two horse Plough, as 

 shown by work, $20 



484. Best three or four horse 

 plough, as shown by work, 20 



All questions as to the class of 

 ploughs on trial to be decided by the 

 Juds:es. • 



485. Best ploughman with horses, 



486. Second best, 



487. Best ploughman with steers, 



488. Second best, 



1st Premium, Ids of the amount subscribed. 

 2d Premium, ^d of the amount subscribed. 



Judges : 



Col. Thos. J. Randolph, x\lbemarle. 

 Thomas S. Watson, Louisa. 

 H. C. Watkins, Chesterfield. 

 Fielding L. Douthat, Charles City. 

 Dr. J. Mayo, Westmoreland, 



10 

 5 

 10 i 



5; 



It is left to the discretion of the| 

 Judges whether or not to make two classes ' 

 of premiums, one for white and another for 

 black ploughmen. 



Judges : 



Hon'l Wm. C. Rives, Albemarle. 

 Richard Gr. Morris, Richmond. 

 B. J. Barbour, Orange. 

 Wm. Michaux, Powhatan. 

 Nath'l F. Bowe, Henrico. 



Class 88. — Premiums hy Individual donors. 



489. A company of gentlemen 

 propose to raise by subscription a 

 sum of money to be given as first 

 and second premiums to the two 

 most successful competitors in a 

 Hurdle race : 



Economy of Agriculture. 



There is no subject less understood nor 

 more generally mistaken than this; nor any 

 more essential to the prosperity of agricul- 

 ture. Sufficient to afford matter for an entire 

 treatise, it cannot be embraced in a short 

 chapter. But a short chapter may put 

 minds upon the track, able to unfold its in- 

 volutions with every branch of agriculture, 

 and more especially to disclose its value. 



Diminutions of comforts, necessaries and 

 expenses, are too often mistaken for the 

 means of producing the ends they obstruct ; 

 and the rapacity which starves, frequently 

 receives the just retribution of a disappoint- 

 ment, begotten by a vicious mode of avoid- 

 ing it. From the master down to the 

 meanest utensil, the best capacity for fulfill- 

 ing the contemplated ends, is invariably the 

 best economy; and the same reasoning 

 which demonstrates the bad economy of a 

 shattered loom, will demonstrate the bad 

 economy of a shattred constitution, or an 

 imperfect state of body. The cottagers who 

 inflict upon themselves and their families 

 the discomforts of cold houses, bad bedding, > # 

 and insufficient clothing, to acquire wealth, 

 destroy the vigour both of mind and body, ne- 

 cessary for obtaining the contemplated end, 

 at which, of course they never arrive. The 

 farmer who starves his labourers, is a still 

 greater sufferer. He loses the profit pro- 

 duced by health, strength and alacrity ; 

 and suffers the losses caused by disease, 

 weekness and dejection. In like manner, 

 the more perfect, the more profitable are 

 working animals and implements, and every 

 saving by which the capacity of either to 

 fulfil its destiny in the best manner, is 

 diminished, terminates with certainty in 

 some portion of los^i, and not unfrequently 

 in extravagant waste. Even the object of 

 manuring is vastly affected by the plight of 

 those animals by which it is aided. 



A pinching, nviserly system of agricul- 

 ture may indeed keep a farmer out of a 

 prison^ but it will never lodge him in a 



I 



