390 [Jlsskmbly 



DUTCHESS. 



To THE SECRETAaY OF THE Sl'ATE AQRICiJLTL-RAL SoCflETY : 



Dear Sir : — Again duty requires me to report to yon the con- 

 dition of tha Dutchess county Agricultural Society, and I am 

 happy to have it in my power to change the old stereotyped re- 

 port of former years, by chronicling the evidences of a bona fide 

 and substantial improvement in the affairs of our society. Since 

 my last report the society has been enabled, through the liberality 

 of our citizens, and the indefatigable exertions of a few zealous 

 friends of agriculture, to enclose for the use of the society, with 

 a close board fence, eight feet high, abont six acres of ground at 

 Washington Hollow, as nearly in the center of the county as it 

 was possible to have made the location. Of this ground the 

 society have a perpetual lease so long as it is occupied by it for 

 agricultural purposes. Within this enclosure has been erected a 

 building fifty by eighty feet, for the purpose ot exhibiting fruits, 

 flowers, vegetables, and articles of useful and ornamental manu- 

 factures, and near the entrance to the show ground a business 

 office for the accommodation of the executive committee, &c., the 

 whole got up with simplicity, economy and excellent taste. 

 These structures are, of course, designed to be permanent as they 

 were built by the society at an expenee of about $2,200, and are 

 mostly paid for. The success of the enterprise infinitely sur- 

 passed the liveliest anticipations of the most sanguine among us, 

 haviiJg realized that substantial patronage from the public, which, 

 besides paying the premium list of over three hundred dollars 

 paid also at our first exhibition six-sevenths of our whole debt. 



With such encouragement we entertiiin no apprehensions but 

 what we can pay the entire debt anothc^r year, and at least doa- 

 ble our cash premium list. Indeed we find that we have a nu- 

 cleus now formed, around which the afiairs of the society arfe as 

 certainly destined to center and improve, as will those of a thrifty 

 farmer around the substantial reality of a happy fire-side. The 

 Dutchess county Agricultilral Society is no longer a mere name ; 

 it is an absolute fact that has form and being, wdth e visible, 

 tangible existence, having a "local habitation" and a fair pros- 

 pect.of being able iiercai'ter to offer Riick inducements as will be 



