^78 
Fair of the Hartford Co. Ag, Society, 
The Report on Stock is spirited, practical, and sensi¬ 
ble :—- 
“ The Committee have shared largely in the regrets 
of the members of the Society at the indifference which, 
for a few of the last years, has thrown its paralyzing 
influence over their operations. Notwithstanding the 
unwearied efforts of a few staunch friends, the cause 
waned, and year after year presaged a near approach¬ 
ing nadir. 
“ It is with feelings of a very different kind that the 
Committee are now enabled to meet the friends of 
Agriculture in the counties of Old Hampshire. The 
present anniversary bears unequivocal testimony to the 
fact that a new energy is aroused, and that the sons of 
the founders of this institution have determined to per¬ 
petuate and increase the benefits of a Society upon 
which their fathers spent so much labor. The in¬ 
crease of animals and household manufactures present¬ 
ed for exhibition, and of the assemblage of farmers on 
this occasion, encourage us to hope that a new day has 
dawned upon us. Such meetings are needful to every 
farmer. How can they, as a body, learn the benefits 
of a particular method of culture over others, but by 
coming together and interchanging their views and 
recounting their mutuul experience on the subject ? 
How judge of the best animals for stock, but by bring¬ 
ing them together and comparing one with another, 
selecting the forms best adapted to our soil and use, 
and breeding from them ? There is more in such a 
meeting than the mere excitement of the occasion. 
The plans and method of the successful cultivator are 
carefully studied and imitated. The causes of failure 
in others are as carefully sought out and avoided. On 
our best cultivated farms a rotation of crops has been 
introduced, and this has mainly been done by the con¬ 
versational meetings of the Society, together with the 
circulation of Agricultural reports and newspapers. To 
a great extent, the worst forms of our native stocks of 
cattle, sheep, and swine, have been driven out, and fine 
crossings or full bloods of the best foreign animals 
introduced in their stead. This change must be at¬ 
tributed to our annual fair. All knowledge relating to 
the theory and practice of agriculture should be a joint 
stock concern—a full fountain, into which every farmer 
may introduce a pent stock, and draw out as his wants 
and inclination require. 
“ In number, our farmers exceed all other classes of 
the community. They wield the destinies of our state 
and nation; they are the great producers, all other 
classes being dependent upon them for most of the ne¬ 
cessaries and comforts of life. The farmer, then, 
should be a reading, thinking, working man. He will 
take rank among his fellows, according to the measure 
of knowledge and skill which he exercises in his voca¬ 
tion and among others according to his general in¬ 
formation and virtuous conduct. Nearly all our pro¬ 
fessional men and mechanics come from the farmer’s 
fireside, while the sons of the professional men and 
mechanics are ever sighing for ‘ the good old days of 
Adam and Eve.’ These changes will bind us all as a 
brotherhood together, and ever operate as a check 
upon a spirit of exclusiveness which might otherwise 
spring up between the several classes. The farmer 
has a deep interest in our common schools, our acade¬ 
mies and seminaries of learning,—in the institutions 
of religion and benevolence,—in the libraries, book¬ 
clubs, and Lyceums. He should set the standard of 
intellect and of virtue high, and encourage all to come 
up to its full measure. 
“ The Committee cannot close their report without 
recommending to the Society the immediate adoption 
of measures for the increase of members and useful¬ 
ness of the Society, and we consider the present as an 
auspicious season for such a work. 
“ For the Committee, 
“Samuel Wells, Chairman.” 
The Reports on Horses and the Plowing Match are 
good, but we have not room for them. 
Fair of the Hartford Co. Agr. Soc., held at Hartford, 
Conn., Oct 8, 1842. 
The Report of the Committee on Farms is peculiarly 
full, minute, and instructive. They carefully examined 
nine different farms, and from testimony collected on 
the spot, have made out the exact profit on each, after 
deducting all the costs of production, seed, &c. The 
result is, that three farms pay an interest of 12 per 
cent, on the capital; another, 12 5-16 per cent.; an¬ 
other, 13 3-4; another, 10 1-2; another, 13 3-8; an¬ 
other, 11 1-2; and the lowest, 10 per cent. What 
other business, as secure, has paid an average profit 
approximating to this ? And when will intelligent farm¬ 
ers learn that their profession is not only the most an¬ 
cient and honorable, but, on the whole, the most profit¬ 
able pursuit of life; and that, instead of educating their 
sons for the professions, and the various trafficking 
operations of life, which are already overflowing, they 
would consult reputation, honesty, health, comfort, and 
wealth, by thoroughly fitting them for the duties of the 
farm ? 
The Report on Reclaimed Lands. —A novel, but very 
interesting report, which we trust may hereafter be 
imitated, we subjoin at length. 
“ The first piece belonging to Mr. Samuel Deming, 
of Farmington, is situated between the two ridges of 
mountain, east of the village; containing about 3 acres. 
When he came in possession of it about four years since, 
it was a bog pasture, producing little but coarse sedge 
grass, and low brakes. He commenced his improve¬ 
ment by cutting the bogs and putting them in stacks; 
the following winter they were hauled to his barn-yard 
and hog-pen; afterwards, when mixed with manuure, 
put on to a light plain soil, to great advantage. The 
next year he sowed it with herds grass and clover, 
manured a part of the piece with barn-yard manure, 
which produced a large burden of good quality, while 
that not manured produced little, and that of little 
value; the next season he manured the remainder with 
like success; the past summer, although uncommonly 
wet, it produced a good burden of a good quality of hay. 
The expense of cutting and stacking the bogs, Mr. 
Deming estimates at $2 25 per acre, and that the bene¬ 
fit he received from them on his plain lot, would com¬ 
pensate him for removing them. 
“The next piece we examined is situated on the 
south road leading from Hartford, about two miles east 
of the village of Farmington, owned by Ira Bowen, con¬ 
taining about 6 acres in all; about two acres mowed 
this season, one acre sowed with buckwheat, the re¬ 
mainder now in progress of improvement. Before he 
commenced his improvements, he considered it of little 
or no value, an evidence of which is now to be seen; 
the former proprietor having some years since, hauled, 
in the winter season, when the swamp was frozen, some 
hundreds of loads of stone from the adjacent upland 
into this swamp, to get them out of the way, where 
they are now to be seen, surrounded by handsome 
mowing. From this lot Mr. Bowen estimated he cut over 
two tons of herds grass to the acre, the past summer, at 
one cutting, without the aid. of any manure. He has be¬ 
stowed much labor to get this land in its present state, 
in ditching, digging out the stumps and roots, cutting 
the bogs and burning them; but the actual expense he 
is not able to give, as the most of it has been done by 
