STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 523 



Officers for 1857. — James Brodie, Presidentj Rural Hill; Vice- 

 Presidents, John C. Cooper, Wm. Eouse; Directors, Daniel Green, 

 Jolin M. Wilcox, M. B. Hunting, Moses Eames, Erastus S.Kelsey; 

 A. P. Sigourney, Secretary, Watertown; W. Ives, Treasurer., do. 



BENJAMIN MAXON, President. 



LEWIS. 



The annual fair of the Society was held in the village of Low- 

 ville, on the 17th and I8th of September, 1856. The morning 

 of the first day seemed prophetic of an unfavorable time for the 

 exhibition, but the weather soon proved favorable and vehi- 

 cles of all descriptions came, laden with freight and the varied 

 products of an enlightened and productive county. 



The Agricultural interest manifested by our citizens on this 

 occasion perhaps was equal to that on any other similar gath- 

 ering. The zeal and energy of the leading members showed 

 forth that their motto was "onward." The show of cattle 

 and horses, &c., was not as large as on some former exlii- 

 bitions, but noble specimens of each were out, to remind the 

 citizen or stranger that Lewis can in these thinge vie with 

 her sister counties; (considerable attention of late has been paid 

 by the farmer to improving the blood of horses and cattle, and 

 success thus far has crowned the effort, in horses particularly, 

 for at the last State Fair the horses of Lewis countv bore off 

 many of the first premiums.) In the butter and cheese depart- 

 ment she too is competing successfully with other counties — for 

 quality and quantity is not surpassed by any other section of the 

 State. The samples on exhibition were creditable indeed, and 

 almost bafiled the skill of good judges to discriminate wliich 

 were entitled to the first honor. The ladies fair, too, had its 

 attractions. The articles exhibited were not numerous, but bore 

 the impress of elaborate skill and workmanship; the useful and 

 ornamental, each arranged in tasteful order, presented a picture 

 botli pleasing and instructive to the beholdrr. 



The j'lowing match in the forencxai of the iSth, was witnessed 

 by a numerous throng in afield nearly three-fourths of a mile from 

 the village. Not only did the spectators manifest great interest 

 in the progress and event of the strife, but the plowmen and 



