TRANSACTIONS 



or THE 



COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES, 



In making out this department of the Transactions for the present 

 year, the Executive Committee feel great pleasure in recording the 

 evident advances which an improved agriculture, under the auspices 

 of the County Societies and the fostering care of the State, has made. 

 By a reference to the report of the State Society for the year 1841, 

 it will be seen that reports were received from but nine county so- 

 cieties, while in 1842, about thirty societies have complied, in a 

 greater or less degree, with the law requiring annual reports of their 

 proceedings. In 1841, societies had been organized in only thirty- 

 two counties. In 1842, forty-two counties had such societies, and 

 in thirty-five of these, fairs were held for the exhibition of farm pro- 

 ducts, implements and animals. 



It is difficult to estimate the advantage agriculture has derived, 

 and will continue to derive from these associations, or the impulse 

 which an improved husbandry has received from these numerous fairs 

 and exhibitions. Of the greater favor with which they have been 

 viewed, and the greater numbers who have attended them as ob- 

 servers and competitors, the county reports furnish abundant testimo- 

 ny. Notwithstanding all that has been written on the subject of 

 agriculture, very few comparatively of our farmers are aware of the 

 great capacity of our soils when properly cultivated, or the astonish- 

 ing improvements that may be effected in animals by skillful selection 

 and breeding. It is only when such examples are brought before 

 them at their annual exhibitions, that they find what has been done; 

 and the idea begins to be firmly impressed on their minds, that what 

 others have so successfully performed, may be done by themselves. 



