There have been ten regular meetings of the board of managers during the past year, all of which have been well attended. It having been decided in the early part of the year that the society would derive no benefit from a change of the present location of the fair grounds, a committee was appointed at a regular meeting of the board, held in this city, on the 4th day of May last, to superintend the grading of the grounds and the moving of the track. This committee composed of Messrs. Campbell, Bush and Flanders, have commenced the work for which they were appointed, and the new track will be ready for use during the present year. It is the general wish of the members of the Society, that these improvements be continued, and that some provision be made for erecting new buildings in place of those now occupied, which are mere open sheds and not water-proof. The spring fair was held on the 16th day of last May, at which there was exhibited an unusually fine show of horses and sheep, and farming implements. There were also several competitors in sheep shearing, who displayed much skill in their art. It is recommended that further inducements be offered at these spring fairs, and efforts be made to excite a still greater interest in them than has heretofore been manifested. The annual fair was appointed to be held on the 24th, 25th and 26th days of September, but owing to the weather, the last two days were postponed until the 9th and 10th days of October. Notwithstanding the inconvenience necessarily resulting from this postpone ment, there was a large display of the stock and industry of the county on exhibition on each day of the fair. warranted in offering especial inducements to increased many of the premiums heretofore given. The board felt exhibitors, and The amount of money premiums offered was $1,563, of which $995 was actually awarded, and $895 has been paid. The other expenditures of the Society for grading the grounds and repairing the track, and incidental to the fair, amount to $543.35, making the whole sum for which I have drawn orders on the treasurer $1,438.35. The board of managers have experienced much difficulty in procuring judges to act at the exhibitions of the society. It is hoped that some plan may be devised to obviate this difficulty. The collection of agricultural statistics for the past year has been an almost practical failure. Mr. James Van Horn, of Newfane, being the only town vice-president who has furnished a complete report of his town. Scattering returns have been sent in from other towns, but unless they be made full and complete there can but little benefit be derived from them. It has been customary for the secretary to send blanks to the town vice-presidents, in each December, but I have not done so this year, as judging from the past, I considered that subject one which should be brought before the board of managers. LOCKPORT, N. Y., January 5, 1869. JOHN E. POUND, Secretary. ONEIDA. CLINTON, March 2, 1869. Secretary New York State Agricultural Society: DEAR SIR-The annual meeting of the Oneida County Agricultural Society was held at Hampton, January 5th, at Hamilton's hotel. The attendance was large. The exhibition of fruits and grain was small, and yet of good quality. The society was called to order at 11 o'clock by the President, O. B. Gridley. Committees on the various exhibited articles, and on the nomination of officers for the ensuing year were appointed, when the society adjourned for dinner. At three o'clock the society met again, and the nominating committee made the following report, which was unanimously adopted: President, John H. Wilcox, Rome; 1st Vice President, John L. Dean, Westmoreland; 2d Vice President, John Butterfield, Jr., Utica; Secretary, Roderick Morrison, Clinton; Treasurer, James Elwell, Rome; Executive Committee: George Benedict, Verona; Dr. F. T. Henderson, Whitestown; Thomas D. Penfield, Camden ; R. G. Savery, Annsville; George Williams, Delta; J. M. Stebbins, Kirkland; Henry Rhodes, South Trenton; Luke Coan, Westmoreland; H. Rouse, Marshall; Mark Cheney, Rome. The treasurer's report was submitted as follows: 1868. January 10, Cash by balance for the year 1867 1867.... $885 06 To the Secretary of State Agricultural Society: The transactions of Orange County agricultural society, for the year 1868. Jason W. Corwin, Treasurer, in account with the Orange County agricultural society, Dr.: 1868. Money received from State appropriation. first day of fair... The following are the officers of the Orange county agricultural society, for 1869: President, Ellis A. Post, Goshen; Vice-President, H. Morrison, Montgomery; Treasurer, J. W. Corwin, Goshen; Secretary, Geo. W. Millspaugh, Goshen; Assistant Secretary, H. V. D. Hoyt, Goshen. Respectfully, yours, GEO. W. MILLSPAUGH, Secretary. ORLEANS. The twelfth annual fair of the Orleans County Agricultural Society was held at Albion, September 17th, 18th and 19th, 1868. The receipts during the current year, exclusive of the State appropriation, are .... Add surplus on hand, December 20th, 1867 "State appropriation $1,543 10 21 30 93 75 $1,658 15 $771 00 314 00 463 50 $1,548 50 SAMUEL W. SMITH, Secretary. Leaving a balance of $109.65 in the treasury. ALBION, December 1st, 1868. OSWEGO. MEXICO, December 30th, 1868. B. P. JOHNSON, Esq., Secretary N. Y. State Agricultural Society: DEAR SIR-Herewith I beg to hand you a copy of the annual report of receipts and expenditures of the Oswego County Agricultural Society, as reported at the annual meeting this day. I also inclose the customary affidavits of the officers as to pre miums paid. We have expended for a new building this year. ..... $1,056 50 13.00 $1,043 50 And have borrowed only $300, less cash on hand, $52 25. We have now twenty-four acres of land valued at $2,400. Hall, eating house, treasurer's office, &c., cost $1,800; new building cost $1,043; and we are in debt $300, in addition to the $250 above. With this new building we have now room enough to house everything necessary to be kept from the weather. Hereafter our attention will be paid to decorating and adorning our grounds, and to make them attractive. Our neighbors need culture in landscape gardening and picturesque effect. We have also given subscriptions to the American Agriculturist as premiums, and have a number who have chosen them in preference to money. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Secretary. OTSEGO. The fair of 1868, was the thirteenth exhibition of the society held under the new organization, and upon the present location. During this period these public gatherings of our farmers have been attended with remarkable success. On but one occasion have we been obliged to postpone the fair on account of the weather, and then the result was entirely satisfactory in the end, and in no other year has the weather been such as to seriously interfere with the out-door enjoyment of those who have attended our annual festival. Comparing this with the fortunes of some of our kindred societies, we might say that we have reason enough to be satisfied with our position in the present and our history in the past. But unless we can show some substantial gain year by year, not only in the number of members and in the receipts of the treasury, but also in actual benefit to the agricultural interest of the county, aside from that which would naturally come in course of time without any such organization as ours, we must admit that we have not been entirely successful in achieving that for which we are organized. |