Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-10-22
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Mr.. EDITOR.
It has often occurred to me that something
more than mere announcement of the awards
of premiums ought to be found in the reports of
the examining committees, at our County Fairs
The Society does not seek as its end to distrb-
ute premiums, nor is the duty of a committee
performed when the list of awards is made out,
signed, and delivered to the secretary. The OBJ
ject of the Society is to encourage, in the work
of Improvement, the agricultural community. 1t
does this in various ways, by bringing by means
of premiums offered, the best animals, &c. from
the various parts of the County together for
comparison--by giving Farmers and those in
terestcd in agricultural improvement, an oppor-
tunity TO meet and compare their views, to see
and criticise superior agricultural, horticultural
and domestic productions--by showing what has
been done for agriculture, and in other ways
which will not now mention. But though the
exhibitions of the Society show what has been
done, the Society does not, through its commit.
tees, as a general thing, show what ought to be
done.
The mere award of premiums, contains moth
ing of interest beyond that of personal nature.
There is no element of general interest in re-
port comprising nothing more. In order that
a report may be of general interest, it must
contain some information of general nature
on the subject to which the attention of the
committee is called. There must be a state
ment of the principles by which the committee
have been guided in making the awards. Take
an example Should the Committee OH Farm
Implements commence their report by stating
briefly and accurately, what constitutes good
plow how the form of the pow should be va.
| ricd for different kinds of blowing; what soils
t require burrows of peculiar inclination ant
DEPTH and what plows are best fitted for differ.
ent soils, there would be something in the re
port of real and universal interest and value
D Then the awards should follow, and the why ant
d the wherefore Of each award would be NANTES
to every one. Such report would show tina
4 the members Of the committee had a correct o
: faulty understanding OF their business for tn
4 time being. and would tend more to provok
that kind of discussion among the Farmer.
= which results in progress, than anything or a
;, things else emanang from the society. LIZ
n this course be pursued by the committees O
u sock--let each report embody their views. COZ
= corning the comparative value of different breed
l. let each report tell, not only that such GOV
'r OK or horse was the best but trhy they were 81
- perior and in what respects the best stoc
ID among us may be made still better. In til
" way the proceedings of our County Society wi
n become store-housc of knowledge to Il
: whole communicative Ivy the discussion Of Il
- positions assumed by the different committee
at new truths and more correct views will obta
IN throughout the county on all the principal su
- iects of interest to the Farmer.
have not time now, Mr. Editor, TO say all
IN could wish on this subject Perhaps you me-
a hear from me again in relation to this matte
n 'a should time and opportunity occur. J.
no Burlington, Oct. 2lst. 1917.