346 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



body to the promotion of the farming interests of the county, 

 shirking no labor and sparing no pains. Unselfish and full of 

 zeal, he did what few men do — lived for others and begrudged 

 not his toil. 



Yours truly, R. Camp. 



Brooklyn, Conn., April 12th, 1872." 



The subject of a Stale Agricultural Society had been repeat- 

 edly discussed by gentlemen interested in the agricultural 

 progress of Connecticut. The county agricultural societies 

 with some exceptions were dead-and-alive affairs. Living only 

 to make an annual show, and sometimes waking up to hold- 

 ing fine exhibitions and manifesting a good deal of vigor, and 

 then dozing lethargically for several years or else splitting up 

 into two or three local societies. When the subject of the 

 State organization came again to be mooted, Mr. Dyer took 

 hold of it, as he did of everything else that was good, with 

 his whole soul. His cooperation had been sought, but soon 

 those who sought his aid were glad to aid him ; and, though 

 willing to be led, he proved the natural leader, and without 

 offense, really moulded and formed the State Agricultural 

 Society. With little aid he framed the bill which granted the 

 charter, wrote the constitution and by-laws, incorporating 

 the good suggestions of others quickly and easily secured 

 great harmony of action and a thorough enthusiasm about it 

 in all parts of the State. 



The charter was granted and the society organized in 1852. 

 Mr. Dyer was elected corresponding secretary, and retained 

 this position for eight years. This position made him virtu- 

 ally the business manager of the society. The president, 

 Mr. T. S. Gold, and Mr. Dyer, constituted for a long time the 

 sub-committee of the executive committee, and were the real 

 motive power. For a considerable time the meetings of the 

 sub-committee and of the executive committee were held at 

 the office of the writer of this, and he had occasion to observe 

 Mr. Dyer's breadth of views, accuracy of knowledge, in busi- 

 ness matters, as well as in matters of policy, in law, etc. ; and 

 his tact in sustaining his points and winning over those who 

 dissented. 



