REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 121 



ESSEX SOCIETY. 



It was my duty, as well as my privilege as a member of this 

 Board, to be present at the exhibition by the society in the 

 County of Essex on the 28th and 29th of September. 



I will, therefore, briefly as I may, make mention of such 

 things as occurred to my mind upon that occasion. 



The high reputation attained by this society had awakened 

 great expectations. Very few societies in the State have done 

 more to produce an interest in agriculture. 



Much of this spirit still remains, and some of those who have 

 served laboriously for thirty years or more, are still in the 

 harness, while others have stepped aside to make room for 

 those more energetic and efficient. 



No want of ardor in the cause is chargeable upon Essex. She 

 has certainly been most fortunate in raising a crop of men as 

 well as mind — peculiarly adapted and most eminently qualified 

 to advance the cause of agriculture. In past times she had her 

 Pickerings and Colman, who have left their mark, and shall 

 not the present strong friends of this time honored art in old 

 Essex, as well as all parts of our country, be diligent and strong 

 in placing one stone firmly on the other until a monument ig 

 completed worthy of the memory of these distinguished agri- 

 culturists ? They were amongst the first in this country to 

 suggest openly^ that agriculture was a science, and the last not 

 to plough by reason of the cold. 



The inclemency of the first day threw a damper» over all the 

 proceedings, and greatly curtailed the exhibition. Yery little 

 came in from the south part of the county, for this reason, as 

 I was assured. 



Essex is not a stock growing county ; a large part of their 

 animals are obtained from Maine, New Hampshire, and from 

 Vermont — farmers thinking it more profitable to purchase 

 young animals than to rear them, and in consequence of this 

 conclusion, premiums are offered for animals of superior merits, 

 without regard to their having been raised within the county 

 or State. And it would seem that they do not claim credit for 

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