EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 375 



Dixon's line, through their agricultural societies, publish annual 

 or biennial volumes or reports, in which is set forth their staple 

 interests, their organic and and individual action, their experi- 

 ences and theories ; constituting generally works of great prac- 

 tical experience and utility. Through these volumes the course 

 and action of one State is known to another ; and the people at 

 large are posted up from year to year. Without such an expo- 

 sition, the action and history of a society and state, agriculturally, 

 is locked up within its record books, and known to but a few. 

 Custom also has rendered such publications exceedingly de- 

 sirable, if not absolutely necessary, as mediums of exchange 

 between societies and states. 



The government of the United States seems also to consider 

 it an efficient and desirable means of communicating valuable 

 information. From small beginnings it has increased this kind 

 of publication to hundreds of thousands of volumes per annum ; 

 and while some thoughtless people affect to sneer at Patent 

 office reports, there is still little doubt but what they are the 

 vehicle of vast and valuable information, to the great masses of 

 the people, as well as works of very valuable reference to the 

 studf-nt and professional man. 



The publication of such works by state or national govern- 

 ments, is a matter of some expense to be sure ; but how much 

 money is as well expended by them otherwise ? 



State societies that would attain to a high stand, and maintain 

 an equality with their neighbors, must publish their transactions. 

 So the Executive Committee concluded, and such will undoubt- 

 edly be the settled policy hereafter ; and instead of deferring for 

 one, two or three years, until the subject-matter loses half its 

 interest, the course will probably be to bring out each annual 

 volume at the close of the current year ; by which means it will 

 get into the hands of its readers promptly, and thereby be much 

 more fully appreciated and read. 



The State Fair was held the present year at Janesville, on the 

 last days of September and the first days of October ; and, not- 

 withstanding stormy, unpleasant weather, the most of the time, 

 was as a whole decidedly a successful and satisfactory display. 



