xiv REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



great measure to insufficient views as to the good service whicli an 

 agricultural society ma}' be made to render the farming communit}- ; 

 and from a well-founded conviction, that as at present conducted 

 they do not render to agriculture sufficient direct and substantial 

 service, freed from all objectionable influences, it aflfords me much 

 pleasure to sa}', and it will gratify the Board to learn, that an inno- 

 vation in the custom of the society which required all persons enter- 

 ing the inclosed grounds to pay a fee — an innovation which had 

 been much and apprehensively discussed — did not, so far as I 

 could learn, materially reduce the ordinary attendance. 



There was gathered on September 24th and 25th a goodly display 

 of the products of the farm, a vii'tuous population, live stock, fruits, 

 vegetables and miscellanies. The live-stock mostly left the 

 grounds the first day. The animals belonging to the State College 

 were enough in number and of sufficient quality to make an interest- 

 ing and instructive collection. It was instructive, insomuch as it 

 oflTered for our examination specimens of various breeds from which 

 w^e ma}' be better informed ourselves of their several excellences. 

 Devon, Shorthorn, Ayrshire, Swiss, Brittany and Dutch of the 

 Chenery importation claimed our attention. The college showed 

 also varieties of pigeons, alwa3-s beautiful, and illustrating most 

 convincingly the plasticity of species. Such exhibitions renew the 

 courage of breeders in attempts to fasten upon flesh such distinc- 

 tions as make animals more serviceable to man and as ma}^ be 

 established in the blood. 



Upon my arrival upon the grounds, early in the afternoon of the 

 first day, most of the live-stock other than what was contributed by 

 the college, was removed, and I saw only the town teams as they 

 were passing out the gate. A few hours' showing serve to win the 

 honors, and the literal cattle-show is a thing of the past. It occurred 

 to me that as the attendance the first da}^ is less than on the second, 

 which usually combines more features of interest, that not so many 

 persons have opportunit}- to derive advantage from the showing of 

 cattle as the expenditure of the society for this interest should 

 purchase. 



The award of premiums, I suppose, is rather designed, to instruct 

 the public as to what constitutes a good animal, than to either entice 

 cattle upon the grounds or to gratify with a gift particular individ- 

 uals. Though the cattle were early gone, and the horse had no 

 place in the programme of the first da}', there was introduced a 

 novelty which was so entertaining as to retain the crowd, which was 

 composed largely of the younger population, to a late hour, and 

 which was so innocent as not to be open to objection, and I think 

 merits our commendation. I refer to the Scottish athletic games. 



