Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-06-08
Report Of the State Board Of Agriculture.

Through the poIeness Of an unknown friend
we have been Put in possession Of the "Thrd
Annual RepOn Of the Board Of Agriculture Of
the Safe Of Ohio" The Report comprises a
volume Of more Than two hundred pages, and
Is executed with much nealness.
We have given the volume cursOry exam-
nation, and find thar il is filled with matter Of
the utmost importance, not only to the agricul-
Iural community, but TO all who take an interest
in the prosperity Of the State. The operations
Of the Board, during the past year, are minute
ly described, and furnish inconIestible evidence
that those who objected 10 its establishment
had not fully considered The benefits which
were likely to flow from It's creation.
Ii is of the utmost importance TO all classes
Of ciIizens thar the productions of the State
whether Of the farm, the NINE, the manuiacto-
ry, or the workshop-shoud be diligently as
cerlained, carefully compiled, and spread before
the public. This the State Board of Agricul-
ture has attempted to do, with, perhaps, as much
success as could be expected from the present
defective mode of acquiring information. STA
tisIcs, to be beneficial to the public, must be
strictly correct. If they are not, their useful.
ness are entirely destroyed; indeed, they inure
rather than beneft-mislead rather than en-
tighten the public. The statistics in the report
now before US are, in many instances, of this
description. The ambition Of reporters have
induced them to look at the productions Of their
counties through magnifying glass. Accor-
dinghy, the agricultural products of those coun-
ties are set down at estimates entirely beyond
the range of possibility. The territory in those
counties could not, under any circumstances, at
the given rate per acre, produce the quantity of
grain ascribed TO them.
But this is not the fault Of the Board neither
would we be understood as urging i, against its
usefulness. 1t only proves than the present
mode Of acquiring statistical information of the
productions of The State, is wholly detective;
and admonishes us 10 look to other means for
gaining such knowledge, What those means
should be, is question 10 be considered. The
most feasible system which has been suggest
ed Is, TO make it the duty of the township as
SCISSORS, while listing the taxable properly in
their respective townships, 10 ascertain the pro-
ductions of those townships, and return them
Iothe county auditor. This return to be trans
miued, by the respective auditors, TO the Stale
Board of Agriculture, and incorporated in its
annual report. Thus we would, at rihing ex-
pense, be put in possession Of fund of nfor.
nation, now sealed TO US, which would place
the productive wealth of Ohio in prominent
posiIiIion before the world.
The greatest drawback upon such a system
would be the carelessness of cultivators them
selves. Many farmers never lake the trouble
TO ascertain the amount Of their several crops.
each year, and, for a time, could give very lit
tie reliable information on the subject. This,
however, would be a temporary drawback
The knowledge that such information would an
nually be required, would draw attention to The
subject; attention would promote investigation,
and when the object of the system became lul-
ly understood, individual and State pride would
create laudable competition, not only in ascer-
tanning and returning the required information,
but in the cultivation and improvement of their
farms.
We are constrained to confess, though the
confession brings the blush of shame TO the
cheek, that there would be another drawback
on the system. Political demagogues, whose
ideas Of greatness never reach beyond cleo.
tion day, would attack the system with their ac-
customed venom-all the malignant reptiles that
float in a disordered brain, would be seen in il,
and every stump and cross-road in the State
would echo and re-echo with the brayings of
mushroom statesmen.
But these drawbacks would soon vanish
time-servers would soon sink into their own in
signi6cance,-the system would triumph over
all opposition as its object became fully under
stood, d,-while the croakers would sneak to their
kennels, there to rumnate upon the ruination of
the State and the ignorance of the people. If
their rebuff would not learn them more wisdom
i1would rid the people of their further imPoru-
mites; which, of itself, would be an unanswer.
able Argument in favor of the system.
A Rare Occurrence.
In this age Of ofice-seekihg, when lust for
nnhlir station has hecnnnn q r,orcont rnnn;n