FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII. 627 



"We shall not receive any aid from the State this year, as no provision 

 has been made for the State society. The prospects, however, of realizing 

 sufficient funds from membership fees are flattering from the reports of 

 friends in different parts of the State. Yet, I can not too earnestly press 

 upon the attention of friends of the State society, and all farmers in the State, 

 the importance of earnest and constant exertion in this particular. Let every 

 farmer in the State, and friend of agriculture who desires to see this great 

 interest advance, consider himself as specially interested in this matter; leave 

 not to others what is your duty to do yourselves. Let each man (and woman 

 tooj strive to secure a large list of subscribers, and, when the fair takes 

 place, be in attendance to give countenance and support to the society by 

 their presence, and with articles for exhibition. In this way you will show 

 that you are interested in the good work. We have most encouraging in- 

 formation from most of the c?ounties in the State. A large amount of stock 

 and manufacturing and agricultural productions will be on the ground for 

 exhibition which can not fail to please and reward all visitors. But, in order 

 to increase its usefulness and pleasure, we should not be satisfied to attend 

 alone, but let every one of us endeavor to have something on the ground for 

 exhibition; we should not be satisfied with enjoying the sight of others' skill 

 and industry, but contribute something ourselves to the general mass, which 

 will afford a two-fold pleasure. 



' 'It is too often the case we hear visitors at fairs say, if I had known that 

 such and such a thing could have taken a prize, I could have brought a bet- 

 ter article. A false pride prevents many persons from exhibiting, while 

 their more praiseworthy neighbors, with worse articles, but more energy, 

 carry off the prize. Let this not be the case at our State Fair. Bring some- 

 thing, the best you have, and compare it with other articles of the same 

 kind. In this way you will see the defects in your own, and it will stimulate 

 you to make more exertion in the future. For my own part, I have always 

 thought the farmer who brought to the fair a poor article, the best he had, 

 with a view of encouraging the fair, showed more true and laudable enter- 

 prise than his neighbor who, with perhaps more money and better oppor- 

 tunities, showed a better article. 



''Come, then, friends, to the fair, with your wives and daughters, and 

 bring with each of you something for exhibition. Do not fear that some 

 one will have a beter article than yourself and that you will not obtain the 

 prize, when it is not the money you want, but that you are actuated by the 

 purer motive to encourage the great enterprise, and make our beautiful 

 young State what nature has intended her to be, the garden spot of 

 America. 



■ "I have the assurance of our friends in Fairfield that the most ample and 

 generous provisions will be made for the accommodation of all who attend the 

 State Fair. The officers of the society are exerting themselves to obtain the 

 services of some distinguished stranger who will deliver an address upon the 

 subject of agriculture before the society; and I have the pleasure of inform- 

 ing you that we have hope of obtaining the services of one of the most dis- 

 tinguished men in America (of whom due notice will hereafter be given) . 



•'Remember, friends, this is but the beginning of a great and worthy 

 enterprise, which should enlist both the hearts and purses of every friend of 

 agricultural progress in the State. Remember, too, we have this to rely 



