REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 209 



In the spring of '58 one of the principal officers of the Coast 

 Survey, having a few years previously purchased a farm on 

 the island, became strongly impressed, during his official visits 

 to every part of it, that great agricultural improvements might 

 be made by the development of its natural resources, in marine 

 manures and vegetable deposits, stimulated by association and 

 the bounty of the State. He communicated his ideas to two or 

 three of the leading men of the county, the result of which was 

 a call for a meeting which was numerously attended by the 

 farmers and citizens generally. A society was formed and a 

 constitution adopted, committees appointed to obtain subscrip- 

 tions, which reported at a subsequent meeting, that they had 

 collected in notes bearing interest and cash the sum of $1,600 

 and upwards. It was then resolved to hold a fair in October, 

 which was very successful, increasing the funds of the society 

 as well as its popularity. At a meeting in December, it was 

 voted to petition the legislature for an Act of incorporation, 

 which was granted in February of the following year, and 

 adopted by the society in March at a meeting held for that pur- 

 pose. At the same time a committee was appointed to purchase 

 a lot and erect a suitable building in West Tisbury, the 

 geographical centre of the county. The committee purchased 

 the lot of two and a half acres, and contracted for a hall of 

 ample dimensions, and two stories in height, which was com- 

 pleted on the first of October last. 



The first exhibition of this flourishing society was held on 

 the 12th and 13th of October, two of the brightest of autumnal 

 days. At an early hour nearly or quite half of the population 

 of the island were on the ground. "Woman" in all her 

 bravery and beauty was there in gratifying numbers, and to 

 her the society was indebted for the tasteful decoration of their 

 rooms with evergreen and flowers, as well as their own hands 

 with the pencil and needle. On entering the exhibition room 

 I beheld a profusion of samples of Indian corn tastefully 

 arranged in bundles ; all the varieties of root crops, including 

 a dozen kinds of potatoes, very large and attracting much 

 attention ; samples of spring wheat, one of which was from an 

 acre and sixteen rods, which produced twenty-two bushels, 

 weighing sixty-four pounds to the bushel, which was raised 

 without any extraordinary attention or manuring, proving that 



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