108 



still tliere was a fair show, 'and about six^hundred persons were present. There 

 were at this time ninety-eight paying members. Premiums were awarded ; a 

 farmers' dinner, speeches, &g., filled up the business of the day. 



The next operation of importance was an Exchange Fair, held at Dalton's 

 tavern, in the town of Paris, on the twenty-fifth day of February, A. D. 1851. 

 The object of the Fair was the exchange and purchase and sale of any and all 

 agricultural or mechanical productions. Grains were sold by sample, farming 

 utensils, cattle, hoi-ses and sheep, were also bought and sold, or exchanged, as the 

 parties might agree. 



This was considered one of the best and most useful features of a county 

 Agricultural Society ; but here again this Society was unfortunate in the weather, 

 which had been stormy, with very bad travelling. There was, however, an 

 attendance of some seven hundred or eight hundred persons, and considerable 

 business was done. This kind of a Fair rose high in the estimation of all con- 

 cerned, as productive of more real good than any Show and Fair that can be 

 got up, as almost all attend for some real interest, one wishing to sell, and 

 another wishing to purchase. 



The annual meeting of the Society is held in June. At the last annual 

 meeting the following ofticers were elected for the fiscal year, to wit : 



President, Samuel R. McClellan, of Wheatland ; Vice Presidents, Nathaniel 

 B. Clapp, of Somers, and Luman Marsh, of Paris ; Recording Secretary, T. J. 

 Rand, of Pleasant Prairie; Corresponding Secretary, Levi Grant, of Bristol; 

 Treasurer, Harvey Durkee, of Kenosha. 



This Society held its Annual Fair at Wood's tavern, in the town of Bristol, on 

 the twenty-third and twenty-fourth days of September, A. D. 1851, at which 

 time there was a very good show of agricultural and mechanical productions. It 

 was estimated that two thousand persons visited the Fair. On the second day 

 four hundred persons sat down to dinnei', and afterwards listened to a very elo- 

 quent and instructive Address from the President. The premiums were then 

 declared, which closed the exercises. 



Thei-e were two hundred and thirty-eight offers for premiums. The first 

 premiums varying from two dollars to five dollars; the second awards were paid 

 in agricultural and horticultural books : and I would here remark, that the books, 

 as premiums, gave more general satisfaction than money, the former being kept 

 and preserved as a memento, while the latter is expended and forgotten. Judging 

 from the general expi-ession of those who received these, I am of opinion that 

 good standard works on agriculture, horticulture, and mechanics, would be esti- 

 mated as more valuable than any other award, as it results in placing practical 

 works in the hands of many who would not otherwise have them, and not 

 unfrequently opens a spring whr-'nce flows a stream of intellectual water, that will 



