TEANSACTIOXS. 183 



preciation of real and personal estate •which may be direct- 

 ly traced to the influence of our County Agricultural So- 

 ciety. Yet there are people who " having eyes see not ;" 

 farmers too ! Many an old fogy shies 'round the edges of 

 the crowd on fair day, with his hands thrust into his pock- 

 ets, and the corners of his mouth drawn down into a per- 

 verse expression of discontent at the evidences of success 

 and thrift everywhere around him. There always will be 

 such people, and it would be misspent time to reason or 

 quarrel with them ; yet even they are benefited without 

 knowing or acknowledging the fact. Indeed, these crusty 

 ' hard shells' can no more avoid participating in the improve- 

 ments introduced all about them than they can avoid smell- 

 ing the perfume of a neighbor's flower garden ; but they 

 would'ntbe a member of their County Agricultural Society, 

 or take an agricultural paper on any account whatever; 

 These societies are, however, so to say, minor providences. 

 The good influences are general and diifusive — like the ge 

 nial sun and the gentle rains which shines and fall alike 

 upon the just and unjust. 



The following is a list of the Presidents, the society 

 changing every year : Isaac Hubbard, Clareraont ; Araasa 

 Hall, Grantham; E. J. Glidden, Unity; Edmund Burke, 

 Newport ; J. S. Walker, Claremont ; Henry Hubbard, 

 Charlestown ; William R. Kimball, Cornish ; John M. Glid- 

 den, Charlestown; Robert Elwell, Langdon; the latter be- 

 ing the present chief officer. 



Geo. W. Blodgett is the present Secretary, and J. H. 

 Higbee the present Treasurer. 



There is the sum of $251 in the treasury, at the disposal 

 of the society, which is free from debt. 



At a meeting of the society held in Claremont, in April, 

 1857, it was voted to locate the fairs for the next ten years 

 at Charlestown, on certain conditions being complied with, 

 according to an offer made by citizens of Charlestown. 



Whether this permanent location will result in gain or 



