State Agricultural Society. 9 



and imported ancestors, insomuch that they are coming in demand for 

 export to improve the original stock in the countries from which they 

 are derived. 



Our tine wooled rneinno sheep suffer no depreciation when compared 

 with the best flocks of Germany or France, and their fleeces are as much 

 sought after by manufacturers of fine cloths as the best clips of Spain or 

 Australia. 



Our Cashmere and Angora goats become more vigorous and hardy 

 than in their native countries, and their tine silky fleeces of mohair keep 

 pace with the improvement of the animals themselves. 



In such an expansion of our agriculture and such an improvement in 

 its diversification and condition as we have made since the drought of 

 eighteen hundred and sixty-four, is to be found the principal reason why 

 under the influence of an almost equal drought of eighteen hundred and 

 seventy one, all our industries have suffered so much less than they did 

 at that time. 



THE WORK OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



All this expansion, all these improvements in the modes of culture and 

 in the diversification of crops, in the introduction of better breeds of 

 stock and new and better varieties of fruit, is more or less due to the 

 exertions of the State Agricultural Society, working through its annual 

 Fairs, reports, and transactions, and its extensive correspondence. 

 There has not been an advance step taken by our agriculturists, either 

 towards the foothills and up the mountain sides, or down the rivers to 

 the islands and tide lands, that the State Agricultural Society has not 

 pioneered the way and faithfully and truthfully jDointed out the advan- 

 tages and disadvantages of the new enterprise about to be undertaken. 



THE SOCIETY'S ANNUAL PAIRS. 



At these annual Fairs have been collected together yearly in one view 

 the many rich products of the varied soils and climates of our mountains 

 and valleys, of our sea coasts, tule and swamp lands and river borders, 

 affording our farmers, horticulturists, and stock breeders rare oppor- 

 tunities for observing the advantages of each particular location, the 

 peculiar products to which its soil and climate are best adapted, of 

 comparing notes, interchanging of experiences and opinions, and obtain- 

 ing useful hints and valuable information for their future benefit and 

 guidance. 



At these Fairs the stock breeder, in whatever class, has presented to 

 him invaluable lessons in breeding, feeding, and managing stock. He 

 sees at these annual gatherings of the society the plump, long bodied, 

 short legged, and deep hammed Berkshire; the fine haired, small headed, 

 short faced, and more delicately formed Suffolk and Essex breeds; 

 the thickset, easily kept, and easily fatted China pig, and many other 

 distinct varieties of swine, and determines for himself the breed or cross 

 best adapted for his locality and circumstances. He beholds the fine 

 wooled, closely made, compact Spanish merino; the medium sized, square 

 quartered, middle wooled, mutton bearing Southdown; the large, heavy 

 built, strong boned, and long wooled Cotswolds, and other pure breeds 

 and crosses of sheep, and by inquiry and observation learns all about 



