STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 51 



the farmers should combine and turn speculators, they, with com- 

 mendable caution, provided that their real estate should not 

 exceed twenty-five thousand dollars. This charter was renewed 

 in 1852, restricting their personal property to ten thousand 

 dollars. 



Notwithstanding the spirited exertions of many gentlemen in 

 different parts of the State, not much was effected by the Society 

 for the first eight or nine years after its first incorporation. But 

 after the importation of our bread, to the amount of several mil- 

 lions of dollars, in 1837-8, made necessary, to a considerable 

 extent from a neglected cultivation, and after many other 

 evidences of a decaying agriculture, an energetic effort was made 

 by many of the most active men of the State, as well agricul- 

 turists as others, to reanimate the Society, and through its agency, 

 if possible, to awaken a spirit of imi^rovement with our farming 

 classes. 



The Fair and Cattle Show were established and vigorously 

 maintained, where the farmer could examine the improved farm 

 implements in all their details. Specimens of farm produce were 

 exhibited, giving evidence of the success of an improved culture; 

 imported cattle, sheep and swine of various breeds were brought 

 to his view, as well as home bred animals of the same stock, all 

 contrasting strongly with his own at home. A spirit of emula- 

 tion was excited at seeing the successful competitor drive oft' his 

 prize animal or carry oft' his prize crop, bearing with it the So- 

 ciety's premium in testimony of its commendation. Those prizes 

 were reported, and the course of breeding the animals and the 

 culture of the crops by which tliey were won were also reported. 

 This added greatly to the desire to read the agricultural journals; 

 men wished to read of the success of their neighbors, and espe- 

 cially of the means by which that success had been obtained. 

 The successful competitor needed no promptings to read of his 

 own success, and lay by the report as a fiimily record. Amongst 

 the most valuable achievements of the Society, has been to set 

 the farmer to rendint^ and thinking. Twenty years ago an agri- 

 cultural journal could rarely be found in our farmers' houses; 

 now the house of a farmer, who is a farmer, can hardly be found 

 without one. The Press has been a most powerful and valuable 

 auxiliary to the Society; hundreds honestly admit that in the 



