Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-06-11
Important Suggestions.

We are elaQ 70 uuQ tue SccretAry OF the
Board Of Agriculture has called the atten
iion Of the members Of our Agricultural
Societies in particular. and that Of the CON
munity in general, to the matters which aP
pear in the following suggestions. W,
commend them to the especial consideration
o9our readers
Before concluding thisrcport, (perhaps
already too eI,endcj) the opportunity i
embraced to offer few suggestions which
i; . hoped may serve as clue 70 means by
which our existing agencies ior the elevation
and promotion Of agriculture may be rcn.
dercJ more etlcient and first, with regard
70 the ''ys Of ggriHc Prruiuu.' by asricul-
tur.l societies. Thee are sometimes od red
Tor the largest crop,-ioF the latest animal,
&c, and may consequently be awarded TO
the c1mpsiiior presenting such, irrespective
Of The cost az which the result was obtained
and Of any valuable rrsai; 70 the public.
Might il not De more for the general good
90 give the premium to one Who grows a
fair crop Al lcas' expense; say to one who
makes sixty bushels Of corn, al sixty cents
Per bushsl. rather than to another who
makcs ssvcnty.hyo Bushels. at eighty cents
per bushel2 This course has already been
adopted By a number of our societies, and
they oTcr at present more IN the following
manner For the bost conducted expert
ment IN growing the largest crop al least
cost, which IS decided improvement; but
might no, this Be improved stall more by
making i, rad, simply, Ger the bcs, eou.
ducted experiment, or, for the most satis-
factory eIperimente' This would at once
shut of premiums from all accidental crOps,
or other results, accidental ~ flr as ~
CARDS any peculiar Efforts Of the c1mpeiis0r,)
aud which have been the effect OF .omc cause.
or combination OF causes beyond the cOn-
trol Of the competitor, and which be nigh,
no; secure again by pursuing precisely the
same course Of operation. The desisn Of
the society should not be 80 much torcwari
him who has already got ample pay in his
succrss. as 70 elicit and diggss what may
benefit Others by aiding them 20 obtain Ike
success n the oGrr De simply ior the bes,
conducted experiment, the premium might
l. awarded 10 a cas-, where pccuniary sue
ccss did not follow the oP.riti1n. but by
means Of which. knoslris- Of facts was
elected, which may, IL properly diGusol,
save thousand Others from repeating an
unsuccessful process, and from the loss OF
which would be incurred by 50 doing and
also guide 10 more successful trcaimcn, in
future. Such person is a public benelas-
tor, At bis own private cost too, Aui is
deemed better worthy Of receiving premium
than one who has stumbled upon success,
and makes up bis statement, after the result
is known. from memory merely, or by guess
ins al The details. manure, &c, sc.
" Another point touches the o5t.-,s for
vi,ch yr,uiurs should b. offered. In case
the returns from our societies are promptly
made, and il time serve me, l hop, % De-
able 70 present with til, report. a tabular
statement, which shall e1hib., she various
o9jects for which premiums have BEEN
awarded, and the amour; % each during
tie present year. land IL not 10 season for
this report, d, may ~ into the "ahsirlc; Of
returns, which w.ll b. Published a, SION
A. may be- which may show c,u.iirrlt's
diversity ia the ol-cts 70 which premiums
az AWARDED, aud probably more ~ ryslrd
q the comparative amount, given % each.
While 10 i, true that the varied circum-
stances Of different localities may render
some diversity highly suitable and proper.
it may be equally true that the comparative
amounts offered 10 each may De Amended by
Offering more 10 some directions aud less IN
Others, than a, present, aud by an ezamiu-
alton Of the operations Of all, each may ob-
tain suggestive hints. For instance, more
might De offered ia some cases tor general
farm improvements, or tor improvements Ia
s5me special department, a. iJr undertrlin-
inc, reelaimins swamp', improving pastures,
planting orchards, and ,he ike. such as
these, 10 Is true, would make 10 addition 20
the aitrlcuyen-ss OF the annual exhibition,
bat the gain 10 the community might not
b. less real on this account. The state So
eisty has set a good example in this matter,
BY Offering liberal list u prospective pre-
miums which are 10 beavartcd alter several
years of Efforts. IL is gratifying 10 notice
that some Of the county societies arc pursu-
ing a similar course. One or more OF these
have. during the present year, offered one
hundred dollars i5r best farm improvements,
the farms to he visited by the awarding
committee several time, before the decisions
are made. This necessarily involves con-
siderable time aud labor on the part Of the
committee. but - ar As may be Judged by
the working Of it, as tried, the expenditure
seems TO have proved a profitable one, both
70 the visitor. and visited. Hints and s1g-
gestiou, may be given aud received 70 the
mutual profit Of all. l, Is understood that,
in somo quarters, these Offers have excited
greater interest and emulation than any
other which has been made i5r many years.
Ny impression Is, that many of our societies
at present make no offers OF premiums what.
ever 10 stimulate such improvements and
much cOu6denee Is felt that they might b.
generally adopted with great promise Of
good. 10 Dc eEectnal. the amount should