336 URANSACTIONS OF THE 



ANNUAL ADDRESS. 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE SAN JOAQUIN STOCK AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLE- 

 MENT ASSOCIATION, AT STOCKTON, SEPTEMBER, EIGHTEEN 

 HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINE. 



By Dr. HOLDEN. 



Ladies and Gentlemen : An address before an agricultural society 

 or association partakes more of mixed topics, barely hinting at the 

 various agricultural productions, modes of cultivation, raising of stock, 

 etc., than an address made fully and directly upon any one subject. Time 

 will not admit of dwelling at length upon any one department of tbe 

 art and science of agriculture. It will be well, perhaps, to state here 

 the object of tin's association, and wby it was organized : 



Tbe Directors of the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Society, a per- 

 manent organization since eigbteen hundred and sixty, and one which 

 will continue scores of years hence, I hope, passed a resolution in May 

 last not to hold a fair this year, and the Directors had sufficient reasons 

 for this action — reasons that came directly from citizens of this city and 

 county. In these progressive times and age of improvement, no man 

 should oppose or withhold his influence from these societies and associa- 

 tions; the benefits arising from them, to all communities, are beyond 

 calculation. This association, "The San Joaquin Stock and Agricul- 

 tural Implement Association," was organized in June last, under the 

 laws of California, by five Trustees, as they deemed it necessary to hold 

 a fair this season in order to keep up the good reputation this district 

 has secured b} ? such exhibition ; and for the lack of a hall, to confine the 

 exhibit wholly to the cattle grounds, which is the custom with a large 

 majority of similar societies in the Eastern States. The Trustees have 

 made great efforts to produce a good exhibition, and, so far, are well 

 pleased with the result. 



The Trustees of this association do not propose to extend their exhibi- 

 tions to other years, or in any manner to interfere with the old organi- 

 zation, but, on the contrary, to aid it. An individual farmer, however 

 desirous he may be to avail himself of every agricultural help, cannot 

 always do so unless he is aided by some associated help; and what asso- 

 ciated help can he find better than agricultural societies, where, in a few 

 hours' observation and diligent inquiries regarding products of the soil, 

 mode of cultivation, raising of stock and mechanical skill which these 

 annual exhibitions produce, the whole subject is opened to the view ? 



