The introduction of labor-saving machinery has not been a thing of a day, or a year; but has been the work of ages, and in a measure has been the result of a necessity. In ancient times it was but needful to tramp the grain into the soil by the hoofs of the cattle, and later but to loosen the soil by means of a crooked stick fastened to the tail of the patient ox. Then, could all the corn needed be ground by pestle and mortar; but, in lapse of time, as population increased, more land must be tilled, more grain must be produced, and more bread must be made. To accomplish these results gave rise to the necessity of labor-saving machinery. Then was the rude plow fashioned, with curved mould of wood, and share of same material bound with iron. This was a labor-saving implement of modern times, yet who would think of using it now?

As pestle and mortar were found insufficient, they were re-placed by the water-mill, with all its modifications and improvements. As the sickle and scythe in the hands of the sturdy farmer were found unequal to the task allotted them, then came the mower, reaper, binder, and rake. The next akin to sickle and scythe-the flail-was hung upon some forgotten peg, and the thresher and cleaner took its place. The labor of seedtime and harvest has been made but a pastime. What once was the laborious task of days for all the hands upon the homestead is now performed by the lads and lasses of the household, as though it were but recreation. What once required the muscular force of all the sturdy laborers that could be mustered is now accomplished by haif-grown boys with the aid of a span of horses, which otherwise would have been idle. Not alone in field and workshop has the influence of labor-saving machinery been felt. The burdens of the housewife have in a measure been lifted from her shoulders, though not in the same proportion as those of her husband. The washer, wringer, and the sewing-machine have each taken their part of the household labor, and performed it well.

Now, without further trespassing upon your time in descanting upon the changes wrought in field and household by these inventions, let us at once give to the question an unqualified affirmative answer. The interests of the agriculturists of our country, whether of large or small areas, are so blended with those of other occupations, that they suffer or are benefited by whatever tends to injure or improve those of other callings.

The interest of the small farmer is precisely the same as that of him who tills his thousands of acres. His productions are of the same character and raised for the same purpose. His family have the same labor to perform, and expect the same return for that labor, though in a less degree. They have the same wants to supply and the same desire to receive a profit upon their labor, that they may be able to save a penny for the rainy day, and if by the aid of some labor-saving implement they are able to perform a greater amount of work in a given time, they will certainly receive a commensurate return for that labor. They will thus be enabled to extend their efforts in a wider field, and if the required funds are not in hand to purchase more acres, there are often opportunities offered to cultivate part of an adjoining farm, and the profits thereof must be entered upon the credit side of the machinery account. It is by well directed efforts of this character that the broad prairies of the West have been made to yield such bountiful harvests, and to contribute so largely to the supply of the wants of an ever increasing population.

By the proper application of improved machinery has the product of mines been increased and the commercial interests of our country been extended. In all these the farmer of small areas has an interest in common with the rest. We do not here assert that every tiller of the soil should 9 AGRICULTURE.

be supplied with all the implements that might be mentioned, but some at least will be needed whether his lot be cast upon our eastern slopes or the broad western prairies.

It is known that in this section of the country, either from the exhaustion of the soil or from other reasons, that to insure a good return for the outlay of seed the land must be more thoroughly cultivated than in a former period, and to accomplish this it becomes a necessity to introduce improved methods of tillage. To attempt this by means of hard labor would render the outlay (even at present reduced prices of labor) so great that the profits would be absorbed before the crop was produced. Arithmetical illustrations of this might be given in detail, but would perhaps not prove interesting or instructive here.

Upon every farm, whether large or small, there is a given amount of labor to perform. There are household duties that must not be neglected, and family relations that must be sustained by the heads of the household. These all require time, and thus time to them is money. Whatever increases this to them is profitable. Whatever tends to lessen the burdens of the mother in her manifold duties to her family-whatever enables her to devote more time to the proper training of her children, must in the end prove valuable, both to the immediate members of the family and to society. Whatever will enable the father to spend an occasional hour at noonday or eventide, in imparting a useful lesson to his son in botany, astronomy, or political economy, if you please, must be an advantage.

And what is contributing to these more largely than labor-saving machinery? Nothing. Who knows but what the destiny of many a young man of humble birth has been so changed by the care his parents have been enabled to bestow upon him, through the extra time furnished them by the introduction of a sewing machine into the family, that they may yet rise to positions equally honorable to that so worthily filled by our presiding officer.

Fathers and mothers, if you would have your children emulate the example of great men, you must train them for the task, and to do this takes time.

Have we digressed? If so, we must ask to be excused, for we know full well this is our failing; but our subject is so full of meaning, so interwoven into all the ramifications of society, that we find it hard to keep constantly in view the interest of small farmers alone.

We cannot do it. But lest we should trespass, we will close by thanking you for your kind attention.

On motion of Mr. MOORE, the subject for general discussion,

SHOULD LARGER BOUNTIES BE PAID TO COUNTY AGRICULTURAL

SOCIETIES,

was then taken up, and opened by the following address by Colonel J. L. STICHTER, of Reading:

Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: We have come down from old Berks with the greetings of our agricultural and horticultural society, and to assure you of its sympathy and coöperation in the great work of promoting agriculture. We heartily indorse the creation of the State Board of Agriculture, and wish it abundant success. It is to this centralization and associate effort that we must look for the progress, which will elevate this State to an equal position in agriculture and horticulture with her sister States.

Berks is making giant strides in all departments of the farm, under the stimulating influence of our Society.

We are among the first of the counties to move in the matter of getting State bounty. We have stimulated fruit growing to an extraordinary degree-nearly forty-five thousand peach trees having been put out, which are now in vigorous growth.

We are making an effort in the direction of improving stock. We urged the beautifying of homes, and we have brought to the notice of our farmers the importance of raising tobacco and sugar beet.

Our community takes deep interest in the welfare of the agricultural society, and we have every assurance that our fall fair will be the most brilliant ever held in our county.

California owes her present advanced position in agriculture to the liberal bounties she gives to her agricultural societies-giving $5,000 to the State society, and a handsome sum to each of the county organizations. Pennsylvania has, in a measure, lost sight of the productions of her soil, mainly in consequence of her mineral resources; and now, as coal and iron do not pay, let us with united effort, induce our Legislature to grant liberal bounties to the agricultural and horticultural societies. throughout the Commonwealth.

Although this great subject has been considered second in importance on the part of the Legislature, we believe the time is at hand when the best minds of the State see the importance of fostering this interest. We desire particularly to express our high appreciation of the lively and active interest taken in agriculture by His Excellency, John F. Hartranft, Governor of the State.

The discussion was ably carried on by Messrs. Zerr, Ralston, Stichter, Engle, Foresman, and Beebe.

The act now in force in this State, relative to bounties to county societies, was read by the Secretary, and commented on by him.

On motion, the chair appointed Messrs. Moore, Banks, Mullin, Foresman, and Fahnestock a committee "to take into consideration such legislation as may be required to promote the general interest of agriculture in Pennsylvania, including increased bounties to county agricultural societies."

On motion of Mr. ROLAND, of York, they were also instructed to consider the propriety of releasing the property of county agricultural societies from the payment of taxes, and report at the September meeting of the Board.

Adjourned to meet at one o'clock and forty-five minutes, P. M.

At an adjourned session of the Board, held May 31, 1878, at one o'clock and forty-five minutes, P. M.

The commission appointed, at the request of this Board, by His Excellency the Governor, to examine into and report upon the value of the Guénon system of selecting milk cows, made a preliminary report.

By special request, Captain MORRIS then explained the system, illustrating his remarks by a series of well executed drawings, showing the different markings on which the system is founded. Mr. Morris proved that he not only thoroughly understood the system himself, but could also explain it intelligently to others. (See proceedings of Titusville meeting.)

The preliminary report of the commission was ordered to be inserted in the quarterly report of the Board.

On motion of JOHN P. EDGE, the thanks of the Board were tendered to the citizens of Doylestown, and especially to Henry T. Darlington, for the kind manner in which they had been received by them.

Adjourned to meet at Titusville, Tuesday, September 10, 1878, at three o'clock, P. M.

SEPTEMBER MEETING.

At a meeting of the Pennsylvania Board of Agriculture, held at Titusville, Tuesday, September 10, 1878.

Board called to order at three, P. M., by Honorable M. C. Beebe in the chair.

Present Messrs. Moore, Banks, Beebe, Hamilton, Smith, Roland, Foresman, Keller, Yeakle, Wilson, Eves, Morris, Culver, Enger, Musselman, Sterling, George, and Secretary.

His Excellency Governor Hartranft then took the chair, and Mr. H. C. BLOOS addressed the Board as follows:

Governor HARTRANFT: I have been requested, on behalf of the Oil Creek Valley Agricultural Association, to extend to you and the other officers and members of the State Board of Agriculture a cordial welcome at the opening of your session in this city.

We take great pleasure in having your honorable body, representing fifty counties in the Commonwealth, composed of gentlemen distinguished in private and public life, and in the walks of science, pay an official visit to this comparatively new section of the State.

This is a busy, somewhat exciting, and eventful week in the annals of Titusville. In another hall at this moment, the Producers' Grand Council are holding their regular monthly session, and delegates have come here from all the oil districts, several hundred strong, to concert measures for the benefit and relief of the great commercial industry which they represent. To-day the veterans of the Eighty-third regiment of the Pennsylvania volunteers have assembled in this city for their annual re-union; and last, but not least, is this important meeting of the State Board which is doing so much every year to enlighten, guide, and advance the agricultural interests of Pennsylvania.

We feel highly favored to have had the county of Crawford selected out of the sixty-six counties of this Commonwealth as the place for holding your deliberations. There are a great many older counties than ours, and richer counties, and counties of more historic associations. Still, Crawford county occupies a very respectable rank. There are only eleven counties in the State that contain a larger territorial area, or even a larger population, and of the thirty-two cities of the State, nearly half of them are smaller than Titusville, and few, if any of them can exhibit such a percentage of increase in growth-for in 1860 we numbered but four hundred and thirty-eight persons, while at the close of the next decade, according to the census of 1870, we had attained a population of eight thousand six hundred and thirty-nine. Of course, it was the discovery by Colonel

Drake, nearly twenty years ago, of petroleum oil in the subterranean sand rocks in the suburbs of the city, that alone could account for this exceptional growth. It was this new source of business prosperity affecting all classes alike, as the rain and the sunshine descend on all; it was this sudden amassing of competence and wealth which built up and beautified our city, and which has rendered it one af the most substantial and attractive in the State, with its miles of sewerage, paving, water, and gas pipe, and in which, best of all, nearly every man of business, every mechanic, and laboring man is an independent freeholder.

But it does not satisfy our ambition that our city is the favorite residence of most of the fortunate and successful oil producers, whether their field of operations is fifty miles to the northeast, in McKean county, or about the same distance to the southwest, in the Clarion and Butler districts. It does not satisfy the measure of our wishes that our industrial establishments turn out barrels, or construct tanks, stills, oil well supplies, or machinery. We are persuaded that our people can engage in other things quite as profitably in the long run, as in the pumping and refining oil. We have felt the importance for some years, as a community, of introducing and fostering other manufactures, and of developing and improving the excellent agricultural resources of the surrounding region. We think that is capable of demonstration that this section holds out the strongest inducements for many trades and lines of business hitherto overlooked and somewhat neglected, in consequence of the all-absorbing oil excitement. I allude to woolen and paper-mills, tanneries, agricultural works, cordage, furniture, and cheese factories. Here are the forest products, the raw material, the pastures always green, the streams that are never dry, water power, cheap labor, a home market and railroad facilities for shipment.

But it is more pertinent to this occasion, perhaps, to say that the dairy interest and stock raising are better adapted to our soil and situation in eastern Crawford than the cultivation of cereals or fruits. The horses of Crawford have been exported to the imperial stables of Europe. Our butter and cheese take the first premium and command the highest price at home and abroad. The cheese factories of this county, which numbered only eight in 1870, now exceed eighty. The revenue derived from the dairy products alone, in this county, amounts annually to millions of dollars, and yet it is not extravagant to say that this branch of farm industry is still in its infancy. If we but mark the footsteps of the Creator, we shall see that we stand here near the summit of the lake ridge, at the dividing of the waters running north to Lake Erie, as well as south to the tributaies of the Ohio.

The well springs that supply
The streams are seldom spent,
For clouds of rain come by
To pay them what they lent.

The clouds that cast their rain
On lands that yield our food,
Have water from the main

To make their losses good.

To follow these indications of Providence, and to make the most of our natural advantages, our local agricultural society was instituted a few years since. Our city joined heart and hand with the country in making it a success. We have sowed liberally. We have reaped bountifully, and we see every year new and fruitful fields re-claimed from forests, once standing in idle grandeur, and old farms renovated. We see improvement