a spirit of friendship — and you encourage all, not to plod along as their 

 fathers have done before them, but to strive to excel in this noblest of all 

 professions. 



In another year the State Agricultural Fair "will be held at this point, and 

 it will aiFord me great pleasure on that occasion to see old Elkhart — for that's 

 the name I always give her — fully represented ; not only by those who come 

 to see the products of others, but by those who can contribute to the interest 

 of the exhibition by the products of their own farms and workshops. On. 

 that occasion "the latch string will be out," and we shall have such are- 

 union as I trust will be gratifying and profitable to all. 



Thanking you for your kindness, 



I am very tnily your friend, 



E. W. H. ELLIS. 



The annual address was delivered on the last day of the 

 fair by the Hon. J. R. Williams, of Michigan, and was one 

 every way worthy the high reputation of the author, the 

 theme, and the occasion. There had been two addresses pre- 

 viously delivered before the society, one by its President, the 

 Hon. E. M. Chamberlain, and the other by one of its most 

 active and efficient members. Dr. M. M. Latta. These ad- 

 dresses will all be furnished in connection with this report, 

 if copies can be procured in season. 



Our society was organized under the most trying and dis- 

 couraging circumstances. It seemed almost impossible to 

 awaken an interest in its prosperity among that class, whose 

 interest it was to promote. A few friends of the cause, 

 mostly engaged in other pursuits, kept it alive by frequently 

 meeting together and consulting in regard to the best and 

 most practicable means of enlisting the co-operation of our 

 farmers and thereby establishing the organization upon a sure 

 basis. No pains were spared. And after all our efforts, and 

 considerable expense, and though late in the season, the society 

 come to the conclusion there was but one experiment left, and 

 that was, the agricultural exhibition, the details of which are 

 given above. That was considered the turning point in its 

 prospects for usefulness, if not for life itself. Arrangements 

 were immediately made, though with many in great doubt as 

 to the result. If the society succeeded in getting up a pretty 



