Ig2 ^-^S^ SOMERSET SOCIETY. 



at the Pomological Society tended to draw away patronizers of 

 our Society. Tbere were some good samples of the garden, house 

 and farm, and had the above named society been holden at tho 

 same time there would have been the usual interest manifested. 



EAST SOMERSET SOCIETY. 

 By John Finson, Secretary, 



The financial condition of the East Somerset Society is not much 

 changed from what it was one year ago. The Society has reduced 

 its indebtedness somewhat, paid all premiums, and other expenses 

 incurred during the past year, maintained a good degree of interest 

 among its members, and increased its membership by adding the 

 names of several new life members and several yearly members. 

 The indebtedness of the Society at the present time was incurred 

 a few years since by building a hall on the grounds of the society; 

 a building 30 by 70 feet, and well finished, the whole costing some 

 fifteen hundred dollai'S. 



The Society held its Annual Cattle Show and Fair in September, 

 at both of which there was a very large attendance, and a liberal 

 patronage bestowed by the people in the vicinity and surrounding 

 country. The amount of stock on exhibition was very large, and 

 of excellent quality, particularly that of neat stock and horses. 

 The most prominent breeds to be noticed among the neat stock on 

 exhibition were the Shorthorns, Herefords, Jerseys, Ayrshires and 

 Devons, all of which were held in high estimation by their owners, 

 who were earnest competitors for the premiums offered on the 

 same. 



Horses were well represented on the grounds by several very 

 fine stock horses, a large number of breeding mares, and colts of 

 all ages, the most of which were very fine animals. The laws 

 governing the process of breeding any class of animals are so in- 

 tricate and difficult to be understood, that it is quite impossible 

 for any one who has not given the matter much thought and 

 study and gone into actual tests, to become very successful in it. 

 Hence, the business of raising horses is very expensive, much 

 more so than the raising of any other kind of stock kept on the 

 farm ; so expensive that very few ever receive more than a fair 



