No. 85.] 5 



exertions of our secretary, Mr. O'Reilly, weekly meetings for the 

 discussion of agricultural subjects were commenced and continued 

 during the winter season. These meetings were generally well at- 

 tended by members of the society and the Legislature, as well as oth- 

 ers. The subjects selected for discussion were generally of a practi- 

 cal nature, and from the interest manifested in them we have every 

 reason to believe much valuable information was imparted ; indeed, as 

 the season progressed, it was evident that these discussions had taken 

 a deep hold on the public mind, for besides being reported for the 

 public papers, the attendance on them rather increased than diminish- 

 ed. Many of the subjects of discussion, as well as remarks made, 

 will be found under the appropriate head, in the accompanying vol- 

 ume of transactions. 



The executive committee have, during the season, held their regu- 

 lar monthly ixeetings for the transaction of the ordinary business of 

 the society. These meetings have most commonly been full, and 

 thus gave evidence of the growing interest felt in the institution, and 

 each has contributed all in his power to make the labors of the socie- 

 ty as effective and useful as possible. That public sentiment partakes 

 of the feeling imparted, is witnessed not only by the fact that our 

 meetings during the year, have generally been better attended than 

 heretofore, but from the desire for the general diffusion of agricultu- 

 ral intelligence, and from the numbers that attend our exhibitions, the 

 desire to become better acquainted with our movements, and the large 

 and respectable collections that grace our fairs whenever and where- 

 ever we hold them, are signs that we cannot mistake. These sub- 

 jects are all causes of congratulation, for we have seen the time, and 

 that too not far distant, when the prospect for our advancement in 

 the estimation of the community was any thing but flattering; but 

 keeping steadily in view the advancement of agriculture as our polar 

 star, and using every effort to awaken public attention to this great 

 interest, we have in a good measure succeeded in arresting and fixing the 

 gaze of the community upon our progress. All our efforts tend to 

 give better practical views of the subject; our object has been, and is, 

 to call the practical farmer to aid in advancing our cause, and we find 

 that we are daily gaining numbers of them. 



As the State fair for the year, was appointed at the meeting of the 

 society, in January, to be held in Poughkeepsie, on the 18th and 19th 



