THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
13 
enriching the soil far beyond the materials they 
possess in themselves for this purpose. But this 
waste need not occur, even without the use of these 
valuable materials. The loss which is now sus¬ 
tained from the leaky floors of stables, may be 
avoided by making them tight, and using conduc¬ 
tors, which will lead the liquid manure into reser¬ 
voirs, which may either consist of turf, peat, or 
earthy which will absorb and retain it; or tanks 
where the manure may be mixed with ashes, plas¬ 
ter, or peat, where it will ferment for future use. 
The comfort of the cattle may. be equally secured as 
with straw beds, by so arranging the floors as to 
have them at all times perfectly dry, and the shelter 1 
made sufficiently warm. If the above arrange-! 
ments are alj carefully carried out, and roots and 
grain are provided in sufficient quantity to make up \ 
the requisite nutriment essential to the stock, in a 
properly condensed form, and easy of digestion, 
large quantities of animal products from the farm, 
may be greatly augmented, much to the profit and 
satisfaction of the farmer. 
THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
There are many reforms which we should be glad 
to see introduced into this Society, and which we 
have repeatedly spoken of without much effect. 
One of the most important of these, in our judgment, 
is, to elect one or two competent and liberally paid 
salary officers for its general management. The 
Presidency is considered an honorary station, and 
there will always be found a sufficient number of 
gentlemen in the State well qualified to fill it, and 
willing to assume the light duties of the office with¬ 
out compensation. The offices of Corresponding 
and Recording Secretary we would abolish, and 
elect in their place, simply a Secretary of the Society. 
This officer should be the principal manager of tlie 
Society’s concerns under the direction of the Presi¬ 
dent, Vice Presidents, and Executive Committee. 
His salary should be a liberal one—not less than 
$1,000 or $1,20Q per an wnm ; and he should have 
such assistants under 'him, at moderate salaries, as 
he should find absolutely necessary to attend to the 
affairs of the Society. In addition to his taking a 
general supervision of the Society, it should be his : 
duty to make monthly excursions into different parts 
<of the State, and deliver lectures to the farmers— 
pointing out marl beds and the proper use of them ; 
the benefits of lime and plaster; draining swamps 
and low places ; the use of muck and the best method | 
of mixing composts ; best kinds of seeds ;‘best rota¬ 
tion of crops for different localities; the improve¬ 
ment of stock; the culture of fruits; improvements 
in buildings; improved agricultural implements; 
the formation of Farmers’ Clubs; interest the people 
in the State Society ; get them to become members ; 
solicit conations, kc. 
A Secretary .properly qualified for his station, and 
pursuing this course, would undoubtedly add $3,000 
or $4,000 a year to the receipts of the Society, and 
thus pay his salary twice over. We will grant that 
it would require a person of many and peculiar 
qualifications to fill the office; but we believe such 
can be found, and if not, it is high time some de¬ 
serving man was educated for the station. His 
heart should be devoted to the cause of agriculture. 
for the cause alone ; he should be a practical farmer 
and stock-breeder; possess a good knowledge of 
chemistry, geology, mineralogy, and botany, and as 
much general knowledge as possible. He should 
have a ready address, pleasing manners, and above 
all, no other interest whatever to serve than that of 
the Society, and the general advancement of agri¬ 
culture. What invaluable reports would not such 
a man make ; and what a mass of practical, bene¬ 
ficial information would he not be able to diffuse 
among the farmers! 
A great reform is demanded in the Transactions. 
The reports of committees we would not only not 
publish, as desired by some of our correspondents, but 
we would not have them made at all, except as the 
mere reasons, verbally expressed, in the briefest 
possible manner, of their decisions upon the differ¬ 
ent subjects brought before them. We do not know 
why the assembly, on the day of the show, should 
be bored with long dissertations on crops, stock- 
breeding, agricultural implements, &c. Such things 
as these should be discussed in the periodicals, or in 
prize essays, but not on the festive and busy days 
of the Society’s cattle show. 
Much more attention should be paid to the mat¬ 
ter of appointing judges, and those persons selected 
who have really some knowledge of the subjects of 
which they are to be the umpire. The most unjust, 
disheartening, and mortifying decisions are annu¬ 
ally made for want of proper attention to this sub¬ 
ject. We think the judges ought to be furnished 
with free quarters at the expense of the Society dur¬ 
ing the three days of its meeting. Another very 
important regulation demanded is, that the sliow- 
yard be closed the first day against visitors, and thus 
allow r the judges a better opportunity to fulfil thcii 
duties. It is utterly impossible for them, surround¬ 
ed as they are with such crowds, to properly exam¬ 
ine the objects submitted to their decisions. 
The plowing matches, and especially the trial cl 
the diaught of plows, as they have ever been con¬ 
ducted, w r e consider as so much time and money 
thrown aw'ay. The dynamometer is a rank hum¬ 
bug, and no true test of the draught of an imple¬ 
ment ; for it is scarcely less varying when the plow 
is moving, than a weather-cock in a gale of wind. 
A windlass and weights are the true tests. Besides 
this, different plows are wanted for different pur¬ 
poses, and one for a sandy soil must be constructed 
in a very different shape from that for a deep loam, 
or a stiff'clay. They require as much classification 
as the various breeds of stock—and something so 
of many other implements. 
Advantage has been taken of the meetings of the 
Society, by the keepers of taverns, to charge out¬ 
rageous high prices for the entertainment of their 
guests. They will crowd three of four beds into each 
low, narrow room, and two or three persons into 
each of these; provide the most indifferent fare at 
table, and service in the house, and then charge 50 
to 100 per cent, more than on am ordinary occasion. 
The stable keepers, hucksters, and even boot¬ 
blacks and barbers, follow the example-—all seem • 
ing to unite in gouging the honest farmer, or casual 
visitant, to the utmost they dare. An arrangement 
should be made with the hotels, &c., beforehand, 
for the accommodation of a certain number of 
