10 TUANSACTIONS) OK TlllC 



ANW.\Llli;i'(lllT(lFTII[|iil\ll|lilFIIII!ErT0ltSFillllM8. 



To (In ^frmhcrli nf the State Ar/rivulttiral Soviet 1/ : 



Gentlkmkn : In prcsoiitiiiK tliis, the twenty-fifth annual report, 

 the Board of Directors of the California State AKricultnral Society 

 once more have every reason to con^a'atulate the nienihcrs and the 

 entire people of the State on the success of its management, and the 

 increased usefulness which has attended the efforts and progress of 

 the Society during the year just gone. 



The future of the Society has never been more bright than it is at 

 this time. The further success of the Society dejjcnds in a much 

 greater measure upon you, the members thereof, than is generally 

 understood. It recjuires the aid of each individual member to make 

 any association, in its aims and business, a^uccess. We feel a.^siired, 

 and we get the assurance from your actions in the pa.st, that you will 

 spare no individual exertion to carry the Society onward and upward 

 until it becomes what it should and can be, second to none in its 

 usefulne.ss and prosperity. The year just closed has been a remark- 

 able one in the history of the Society. A (luarter of a century since 

 it came into existence. It has, of necessity, like all institutions of 

 our State, had to encounter dark and dismal days, when its life seemed 

 almost gone ; but, thanks to the eflficient management, it has outlived 

 all dangers, and with just, honest, antl capable management you 

 have nothing to fear for the future of this Society. 



During the year the producing, and jiarticularly the laboring 

 classes in the cities, have experienced financial distress. Tiie 

 farming community all over the State, with but comparatively few 

 exceptions, have been rewarded for their industry by good crops; 

 they have plenty and to si)are. .Vgriculture is constantly receiving 

 a noticeal)le increase, year after year, in this State. Tiie farmers are 

 raising belter stock of all kinds ; thev cultivate their land and handle 

 their various crojjs 111 a more remunerative and scientific manner. 

 This is largely the result of their being brought together and exhil)- 

 iting at our annual fairs, thus aiding not only themselves i,»ut the 

 Society in accom])lishing the object and aim f^or which .the Society 

 was organized and is supported for. 



At our last annual meeting there was a livelier interest taken than 

 for years past. As tlie number of votes cast will show, there were 

 present and i)articipated three hundred and sevciUy members, and 

 though so many were present from all sections of the State the meet- 

 ing was in every way marked by the utmost harmony and good feel- 

 ing; and but a single idea seemed to prevail, and tiiat was the welfare 

 of the Society. 



Since then the Hood-gates of heaven were oi)ened,and submerged 

 the low lands that border upon our rivers, sweeping away levees and 



