Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-23


SECOND ANNUAL ExHIRITIoN OF THE VIRGIN.
IA STATE AGRICULTURAL soCIETY-REPoRr
OF SUR COMMITTEE on PREMIUMS
(APprored BY The E<eentivs Con,niites.)
The Subcommittee charged With preparing schedule
Of premiums for the Annual Meeting and Exhibition Of
iset have performed the required duty Together with
the schedule, there annexed they ask leave to submit
tho principles aud Of their action 10 the proposed
changes om, or additions to. tho premiums Of 1883.
Experience has shown that there either much
bguy OF expression in many OF the previous oaers Of
premiums OF wrong construction and Misunderstanding
by claimants os by the judges Of Awards both. Sun
dry changes OF language or OF required conditions in the
prescott schedule are designed to prevent many OF these
former errors then caused by the novelty Of the proce
dure and the ineIperence Of all parties.
The general object kept in view 10 preparing the pre-
sent list OF premiums endeavor by the stimulus
such honorable rewards induce services elicit nfo-
nation which will most couduce to tho benefit Of practi-
cal agriculture Even when duly observing the strict
limitation fixed by the Constitution OF the Society offer
premiums for such subjects ouly "a, likely benefit
agriculture horticulture the auxiliary mechanic
sti tho proper aud legitimate subjects for premiums
are unumerable-and OF measures Of value Tar exceeding
precunary Inducements honor that this Society
Is able to oGr In premiums Under these circumstance
the sub committee have aimed to offer tho highest pre-
miums for the objects services deemed Of value
for information and Instruction. and the most difficult
be prepared and furnished-and for which, therefore,
there win always be frwest claims and awards in proper
ton to the number of premiums offered. The conducting
OF accurate experiments sufficiently varied aud large
scale, is deemed the service requiring the most inell-
gence care labor and cost the OPERATOR and Of which
the results ere likely to be the beneficial to agricu
ural Improvement labors and interests Hence, premi-
generally amoug the highest in amount proposed
for these services and the results when OF suitable and
sufficient value; though these premiums still low
If considered remuneration for such services when
they may be succcssuin obtaining the premiums offered
The important aid to agricultural instruction
is the presenting practical information, aud useful facts
in essays other written which 10
also next to experiments, the service the least likely
be performed in proper manner OF all the classes of
jccts for which premiums offered to induce the
performance exhibition. Therefore, for this service
also, more and higher premiums proposed, in the
hope Of successfully inviting many and the most
able competitors and obtaining the valuable services
OF this kind
The exhibition comparison, aud correct decisions of
the superiority OF agricultural machines, implements &c
make Another and perhaps the means
for aiding agricultural Improvement Tho as well as
the former and still retained regulations, and offers OF
premiums designed give every proper "a ty aud
inducement to bring together all aud useful machines
and implements and also enable future buyers b,
benefited by the exhibition aud COMPARISON Of ALL
and awards Of superiority for the best For the first or
these objects competitors invited from all aud
localities; aud different from the policy Of other
Socicties) the Implement machine, long il
is deemed the best will continue receive either pre-
MUM other honor, being still the best exhibited
For the second object the benefit of the buyer the name
description and price OF every machine exhibited
QUESTIONS, premium awarded for certain article, at
certain price may puff and aid the sale OF other
very different inferior worthless articles or if the
same, or as good, at much higher prices
In regard greatest products Of land important aud
valuable subjects these for honorable distinction
or reward has been deemed necessary to exclude all
products OF such small spaces afford indication
OF superior merit or profit of the cultivaor.
The far greatest number OF premiums proposed is FOR
live stock Of various aud of all useful and generally profit
able kinds In this, the largest portion of the schedule
before the snb committee have proposed but liz
tie alteration Of the subjects for amounts OF premiums
0ne class only of those before designated omitted viz
imported" animals But all such, il indeed superior for
their useful qualities, will be admitted fair aud equal
competition io other animals o like qualities. Il is
presumed that If animal is superior for its quail
Ties other animals of like kinds and qualities but OF
different origin it ought not either in justice policy
receive premium because imported, instead Of being
quite as good and reared 81 home
These general statements aud enough for
their object. Their application may be in many
alterations Of the former schedule which would be
tedious and useless 10 refer 10 separately in this pre-
liminary report.
A. there numerous products OF the mechanic. or
fine arts which, though legitimate admissible sub
ects for premiums, would be interesting subjects for
public exhibition, aud useful invite the attendance of
visitors it further proposed that the propretos Of ALI
such articles be invited bring them the Socieys
hibiton and that suitable space the grounds be
signed them and all the aud attention required
and that can be given.
As necessary sustain the principles sought be
sscted in the schedule of premiums submitted the
committee beg leave recommend the adoption of the
following negative regulation by the Executive Commit.
tee; that premium except such may be offered
by individual donors and agricultural implements and
machines be imported from Europe shall be offered
after the frst publication OF the approved and adopted
schedule II the opposite rule pursued and still more
il premiums offered the last day of the
exhibition OF the articles there be general fair
competition for these late premiums. Under such action
usually occurs that any single article presented Of good
quality plausible preteusion for which premium had
been offered until very late not at al, and which
therefore had competitor, will be far likely to
obtain premium than il the premium had been duly
offered first. In fact, premiums offered very
subject then in view instead Of subjects being ELECTED
suit and to compete for the offered premium.
10 regard to many subjects which may be offered for
premiums but especially to experiments, the whole
year is too short time for proper competition. The pre-
paraon for aud seeding of wheat will always have passed
long before the offer OF premiums for the year
can appear. The earliest publication that can now be
made may he too late for other experiments requiring
winter preparation early spring progress. Hence the
expectancy Of and urgent necessity for the earliest posi-
Die adoption and publ cation Of the premium list. In
addition, the subcommittee ask leave recommend til lat
all approved subjects experiments for which premiums
will Oc offered shall be continued for at least two year,
longer deemed sufficiently investigated or other.
wise not requiring further trial or encouragement
EDMUND RUFFIN,
CHI Is. WILLIAMS, Sub. Committee
WIN. q. CRENSHAW,