218 Bureau of I'aumkks' Institutes. 



lated among the farmers at a nominal price. The first number 

 appeared March, 1833, with Jesse Buel, J. P. Beekman, and J. D. 

 Wasson as committee of publication. The Cultivator soon be 

 came the individual enterprise of Jesse Buel and shortly after 

 his death was combined with the Genesee Farmer under the 

 editorship of Willis Gaylord and Luther Tucker. In the pages of 

 this journal were printed the foremost agricultural thought of 

 the time, and many articles, especially those of advice to young 

 farmers, are of great value even at the present day. 



However lasting the influence of the society through the pages 

 of the Cultivator may have been, for several years little else was 

 done save the holding of annual meetings in Albany. Gradually 

 the members became dissatisfied with these petty results, and the 

 more progressive thinkers began to see that the society must 

 start its work on a new basis. February 10, 1841, a reorganization 

 was effected and the following suggestive clause inserted in the 

 constitution: '^ The society shall hold an annual cattle show and 

 fair." This movement owed its success to the indefatigable ex- 

 ertions of a few men, among whom may be mentioned Ezra P. 

 Prentice, Luther Tucker, Benjamin P. Johnson, Joel B. Nott, 

 Alexander Walsh and J. J. Viele. The success of their efforts 

 was due, first, to an act of the Legislature appropriating the sum 

 of §8,000 for the term of five years for the promotion of agricul- 

 ture and household manufactures in the State. This amount was 

 apportioned as equitably as might be among the county societies, 

 and |700 was allowed the State Society. Another strong factor 

 tending toward the success of this new movement was the annual 

 fair made possible by the above appropriation. 



These fairs, beginning at Syracuse, September 29 and 30, 1841, 

 have been held every year since with almost invariable success. 

 For almost fifty years it was held at various places throughout 

 the State. In 1889, however, the society made provision for 

 permanent grounds at Syracuse, and there the State fair has, be- 

 ginning with 1890, since been held. These fairs, by enabling the 

 farmer to hear the thoughts and see the products of the foremost 

 agriculturists of his day, have had an educational value which 

 has started many a man on the road to success. 



The holding of fairs, however, has not been the only great 

 work of the State Society. In its published Transactions are 



