62 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW- YORK 



early efforts of the Society, their prejudices were strongly against 

 it. They held " hook farming^'' as a laughing stock; but the more 

 they saw at our exhibition, and " the more they read, the less 

 they found they knew." Their implements, their fields, their 

 fences, their cattle, their sheep and swine, all show that they have 

 read, and that " they have been to the fair." It is not to the im- 

 proved cultivation of the soil alone, that we are to look for grati- 

 fying results from this reading habit with the agricultural classes; 

 a moral and intellectual culture is show^ing itself most obviously. 

 The agriculturist is raising his social standard; he is showing 

 that labor need not degrade intellect, but that intellect may dig- 

 nify labor. This Society has had constantly in view, not only by 

 an improved system of husbandry to enrich the individual farmer 

 and thereby enrich the State, but to raise him in his social and 

 intellectual relations to a level to which his wealth and his intel- 

 ligence so justly entitle him. 



The Society, seeking beneficially to represent the great agri- 

 cultural class of the State, has enjoyed the confidence and had 

 the cheerful aid of many of the prominent men and some of the 

 best minds in the State. They have had the countenance of all, 

 and the aid of many of the Executives of the State, from Mr. 

 Clinton down to the present incumbent, who has so usefully iden- 

 tified himself with its interests and so freely shared in its labors. 

 But the Society has not been so successful in winning the confidence 

 or securing the favor of all the officials in some other departments 

 of our government. Up to 1843 the Society had not a place as- 

 signed them, by the State, even for an office. At that time the 

 State offices and Supreme Court Clerk's office had been removed 

 to their present quarters, which left the old State Hall vacant, 

 and the Executive Committee of the Society applied for permis- 

 sion to occupy the first floor at the east end of the old building 

 for their office and library, which was assigned them; but after a 

 short time they were restricted to one back room, with the fur- 

 ther restriction that they should put up their sign on a cross street 

 and enter there, without permission to have a sign at the front 

 door. Whether some of the old feudal sentiment still remained, 

 or from what cause this restriction was imposed, was not disclosed; 

 but for the privilege of having an office at all, even upon a cross 

 street, the Society was suitably thankful. 



