EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, ETC. 



ACTION FOR 1857. 



The Executive Committee held their first regular meeting 

 this year at Madison, on the 21st of January, and after 

 a careful survey of the past movements and policy of the Society, 

 determined to prosecute its interest with new vigor and effi- 

 ciency, to the end that it might be as usefid to the public as 

 possible. 



The policy of the forthcoming year was marked out, and the 

 various departments of the work assigned to different commit- 

 tees. The premium list was materially enlarged in its scope, 

 and diversified in its applications ; new features were added and 

 old ones amplified, until its range and amount was increased 

 about fifty per cent. 



Provisions were made for the purchase of considerable quan- 

 tities of choice agricultural and garden seeds, for distribution 

 among the scattered population of our new State. In conformity 

 with which plan, considerable quantities were subsequently ob- 

 tained and distributed over as wide a range as possible ; and 

 many who received and experimented with them, have since 

 expressed their high satisfaction at the results attained. There 

 can be no doubt, but many new and valuable varieties of cereal 

 and vegetable products will be thus developed, that are congen- 

 ial to our soil and climate,, and profitable for cultivation. 



Large quantities of the Chinese Sugar Cane were distributed 

 ^ in small packages to those who were interested to try the exper- 

 iment of its cultivation ;. and whatever the result of the experi- 



