34 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 



in the promotion of the cause with which it is now everywhere 

 identified, are recognized as connected directly with the greatest 

 happiness to the greatest number. The Fair at Watertown was 

 behind former fairs, only so far as a continued, remarkable storm 

 could operate in embarrassing the movements of the people. 



As the Fair of 1855 was at the call of the people, held at 

 Elmira, one of those creations of the internal improvement system 

 in the southern frontier of the State — so was the Fair of 1856, at 

 a call not to be disregarded, placed at Watertown, a village in 

 its industry, its wealth, its active manufactories, and its general 

 prosperity, evincing what an extent of business and population it 

 was the good fortune of this State to possess as well upon its 

 northern frontier as upon its southern border. The citizens of 

 Watertown, at whose invitation the farmers of New- York assem- 

 bled, had fully and liberally made all the preparations enjoined 

 by those wise regulations, wliich the Society, from its experience 

 of many years has instituted. 



The area was capacious and thoroughly guarded; itself an 

 object of interest in that fertile and richly watered valley. The 

 buildings were of strength of structure, the usefulness of which 

 was every hour proved, and former fairs have failed to exhibit 

 ground better chosen or arranged. The accommodations for the 

 stock were such as to give that valuable property the best oppor- 

 tunity to display their highest qualities; and the space set apart 

 for their exhibition was ample and wisely arranged. 



The fixtures for the display of machinery which is acting a 

 part so important, as science advances in the farmers' labor, were 

 of unusual importance; the steam pipes so prominent on the 

 ground were the significant indications of the near approaching 

 and complete adoption by the Farmer of all the powers of the 

 Machinist to aid in the culture — the thorough and well rewarded 

 tillage of the earth. 



The Fair grounds were complete; the arrangements had been 

 made with the well judged expectation that the farmers of the 

 State would visit any and every locality of their fellow farmers 

 — inasmuch as the sphere of duty of the State Society was over 

 all the State, and every incident proved that only the peculiar 

 inclemency of the weather prevented the gathering of thousands; 

 notwithstanding the storm, whose severity was marked throughout 



