390 [Senate 



than this. And now will not the ladies take this department of use- 

 ful effort and ingenuity under their own special patronage and super- 

 vision? Could your committee obtain from them a pledge of their 

 general and hearty co-operation, theirs would be the pleasing confi- 

 dence that the business of silk growing would at once receive an im- 

 pulse that must secure its extended and successful prosecution, and 

 the ladies would weave for themselves fresh chaplets of honor by 

 thus contributing to place our beloved country upon a loftier emi- 

 nence of national independence and glory. 

 All which is respectfully submitted. 



Alexander Walsh, 



Amos Briggs, ]> Committee. 



Albert R. Fox, 



SARATOGA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Pursuant to the act of the Legislature of this State, entitled "An 

 act to promote agriculture," passed May 5th, 1841, I, the subscri- 

 ber, president of the Saratoga County Agricultural Society, herewith 

 transmit all the reports or returns, which the Society was required to 

 demand and receive from applicants for premiums, together with an 

 abstract of our proceedings during the past year. 



The Society was organized under the act, on the 24th of June, 

 1841, by the adoption of a constitution and the appointment of a 

 president, two vice-presidents, a treasurer, a corresponding secreta- 

 ry, a recording secretary and an executive committee of two from 

 each town in the county, which said officers have the control of all 

 the affairs of the Society. They are annually elected on the 1st 

 Tuesday in October. The initiation fee is fifty cents, and the like 

 sum to be paid annually. 



The whole number of members, admitted 1st year, ending Dec. 

 31st, 1841, was 226, and the amount received by the treasurer for 

 initiation fees and voluntary contributions was $123. The full amount 

 apportioned to this county by said act, and drawn from the State 

 Treasury, amounting to $121, was received by the Society. 



Owing to the late period at which the Society was organized and 

 the difficulty of complying with the act in relation to the raising of 

 crops for that year, no premiums were awarded the first year of its 

 organization. 



Oct. 5th, 1841. — This was the day fixed by the constitution for 

 the annual fair and the awarding of premiums, as well as the elec- 

 tion of officers. The fair and cattle show were postponed until an- 

 other year. The election of officers took place and resulted in the 

 choice of Howell Gardner, for president; Calvin Wheeler, for 1st 

 vice-president; Jacob Denton, 2d vice-president; Hiram E. Howard, 

 treasurer; Archibald Smith, corresponding secretary; John A. Co- 

 rey, recording secretary; with an executive committee of two in 



