406 [Senate 



names, however, were received at the specified time, that we were 

 compelled at once to recede from this regulation or abandon the hold- 

 ing of a Fair in that year. Moreover, as the Society has no calls for 

 disbursements until the premiums are awarded, it seems useless to 

 endeavor to collect one or two hundred dollars to lay idle in our Trea- 

 surer's hands during a period of several months. All that we desire 

 is an assurance that this money will be forthcoming at the time when 

 it is required for the payment of premiums. With the view, there- 

 fore, of obviating the annoyances and risks incident to this subject, 

 and giving a greater degree of permanency to the yearly income of 

 the Society, a paper in the following words, was issued in July last 

 to the committeemen in the several towns, with a request that it 

 should be diligently circulated, and thereafter returned to our Trea- 

 surer. " We whose names are subscribed, hereby enroll ourselves as 

 " ■permanent members of the Washington County Agricultural Soci- 

 " ety, and severally promise to pay to the Treasurer thereof, the sum 

 " of one dollar, on or before the day of the Society's annual meeting 

 "in each year, whilst the present organization of said Society con- 

 " tinues, or until we individually give due notice to said Treasurer to 

 ^' erase our names from this list." This measure has thus far been 

 crowned with marked success. From the few papers already returned, 

 it is evident that we can hereby easily secure the yearly payment of 

 an amount at least equal to the State appropriation. An annual in- 

 come is thus insured adequate to the efficient support of the Society. 

 " Another measure which increases the amount of our resources at 

 least a fourth beyond what they would otherwise be, is the following 

 article of our Constitution : " The annual Fair shall be held in such 

 " town as shall, on or before the second Tuesday in June in each year, 

 " pay or secure to be paid to the Society the greatest amount of cash; 

 " provided said Fair shall never be held two successive years in the 

 " same town." This regulation was adopted upon the principle that 

 it was but equitable that the keepers of public houses and other per- 

 sons who derive a large pecuniary benefit from having a Fair held in 

 their own village, should contribute liberally towards the getting up 

 of such Fair. It should be noted farther, that in this county, the 

 erection of pens, furnishing of rooms for the accommodation of the 

 Society, &c., has uniformly been at the expense of the village in which 

 the Fair is held, and independent of the contribution of the said vil- 

 lage to the Society's treasury." 



Erratum. — In last year's Transactions, the report on farms, crops, 

 &,c., page 608 to 611, belongs to some other, not to Washington 

 county. 



WYOMING COUNTY. 



The report from this county furnishes evidence of the increasing 

 prosperity of the Society. Dr. D. Lee, of Buffalo, gave the anniver- 

 sary address. The present number of members is 249. 



Officers. — James C. Ferris, President ; J. W. Thayer, Sec'y. 



