46 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



AGKICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



The State is fortunate in having a number of iufiuential and efficient 

 societies founded for the promotion of the interests of agriculture 

 within her borders, and which are now actively engaged in fulfilling 

 the purposes of their creation. 



These organizations are purely voluntary associations, composed of 

 public spirited gentlemen who were interested along one or more lines 

 of agriculture, and who have found it profitable to meet and exchange 

 \ lews, hold exhibitions, encourage new methods of practice, and aid 

 in promoting a more general and intelligent interest, on the part of 

 country people, in agricultural development and education. 



County Societies. 



Among the earliest of these organizations, were the county agricul- 

 tural societies, established originally for the purpose of holding ex- 

 hibitions of farm crops, animals and machinery. Year after year, 

 these societies met, and by means of premiums offered for superior 

 ai'ticles, stimulated agricultural people to exercise greater care in 

 their farming and make an effort to excel in the production of some 

 article or animal which would surpass those previously produced. 



Eighty-three of these county or local associations are novv- in ex- 

 istence in the State, most of them being incorporated and officered 

 with a president, secretary, treasurer and board of directors. The 

 reports of these associations for the year 1900, made to the Deputy 

 Secretary of this Department, show "that the attendance at 49 of these 

 societies in 1900 was 1,143,071, or an average of 23,327 for each society 

 so reporting. There were held during 1900, fifty-six agricultural ex- 

 hibitions in the State. The total premiums paid by fortj'-nine of 

 these societies in that year are recorded at |119,S30.(jO, or an average 

 for each of the 49 societies so reported, of |2,445.52. Thirty-nine 

 societies offer a total in premiums for 1901, of |133,3.o0.00, or an aver- 

 age of ^3,419.23 for each of said societies so reported. This repre- 

 sents an increase in premiums offered this year, over and above those 

 paid in 1900, of 39 per cent. A total of forty-seven of the societies 

 herein recorded have a one-half mile race track, and seven a one-third 

 mile track." 



It is evident, that, as a means of education, these associations have 



