WASHINGTON COUNTY SOCIETY. 



The Secretary writes : 



"This Society now embraces five hundred and thirty-five mem- 

 bers — twenty-three new ones having been added during the past 

 year. Its Annual Exhibition was held at Pembroke, on the 22d and 

 23d days of September. I regret to say that the leading character- 

 istics of the exhibition were confusion and- noise, a great gathering 

 of people, a very respectable show of calves, much disappointment 

 among the fast horse men, by the deluge of the second day. From 

 some cause we failed to have an address, but got up a little stump 

 speeching. The show was not large in any department, but in all, 

 showed a degree of progress. The specimens being, in general, 

 superior to those of former shows. The premiums of $8, $7, $6, 

 $5, i^4, offered for calves, produced the effect intended, and saved 

 many fine calves from the butcher. The show of calves was better 

 than ever before. I can see that the Society is exerting a beneficial 

 influence upon the agriculture of the county, stimulating farmers to 

 improve their modes of management by a more thorough culture, 

 rotation of crops, improvements in building fences and farms in 

 general, more careful systematic culture, and improved breeds of 

 stock. The past season has been favorable for the production of 

 hay and grain — unfavorable for corn — yet threshers complain that 

 the yield of grain is light for the quantity of straw threshed. The 

 general features of the past season were a cold and wet April, May 

 and June ; the first half of July fine ; the last half, and August, 

 foggy; and, in fact, the whole season wet." 



William D. Dana, Secretary. 



The stock shown, so far as appears from the statements of com- 

 petitors, was mostly of native breeds, with some grades and few of full 

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