568 [Assembly 



tlius treasure up a fund of information which qualifies them to 

 be better farmers thereafter. These annual gatherings are a 

 source of mutual instruction and mutual benefit. 



The first meeting of the executive committee of this gociety^ 

 during the past year, was held on the first day of March last, at 

 which time a premium list was adopted, inviting competition on 

 crops, on horses, on cattle, on sheep, on swine, on butter and 

 cheese, on household productions, on mechanical productions, on 

 plowing, on fruits, flowers, vegetables, and indeed on almost 

 everything grown or manufactured in our county. By a regula- 

 tion of the committee, competition, to a limited extent, was invited 

 from other counties. The money premiums thus offered amount- 

 ed, in the aggregate, to some §700 or $800 ; the third premiums, 

 generally, being the Transactions' of the State Society, a very va- 

 luable and useful work. The judges, or examining committees, 

 were appointed at this meeting, and all the preliminary arrange- 

 ments for the annual fair were here made and perfected. The 

 15th, 16th and 17th days of September were designated as the 

 time for the annual exhibition. No other meeting of the commit- 

 tee was held till the annual fair. 



The 12th annual fair and cattle show of this society, was ,held 

 at Mechanicsville at the time above stated, and in point of excel- 

 lence was all that the friends of the society or of the cause of ag- 

 riculture could reasonably desire. 



By a very judicious arrangement of the society, the first day, 

 as usual, was devoted exclusively to the entering, registering and 

 arranging the animals and articles designed for exhibition. 



The exhibition of horses was unquestionably better than at any 

 previous show of this society, and the only mistake was in per- 

 mitting any of them to be taken away before 12 o'clock of the last 

 day of the fair. Fifty-four entries were made in the two classes 

 of horses, and premiums were awarded by the judges on horses to 

 about $70. 



The show of catSle was tolerably good, embracing some 43 en- 

 tries, and drawing premiums in the aggregate of n arly $100. 



