OXFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 



the end, I weathered the storm. But the wealth 

 of the Indies would never have induced me to go 

 through such an experience a second time. 



The Oxfordshire Agricultural Society, for the 

 management of which I had made myself respon- 

 sible, is of very old standing, having been founded 

 so far back as 1811. At the time of my connection 

 with it the show was held at Oxford and Banbury 

 in alternate years by virtue of an amalgamation 

 between the County Society and the Banbury 

 Agricultural Association. After an experience of 

 two shows, one at each of these two places, I came 

 to the conclusion that the old Society had for some 

 years past been slowly but gradually dying from 

 sheer lack of nourishment, otherwise popular 

 support ; the worst of it being that few beyond 

 those who got something out of it seemed to care 

 very much whether it lived or died. The annual 

 show, which was its main/m'son d'etre, and should 

 have been its sheet-anchor, was but a source of 

 loss, owing to the sparse attendance at it ; this 

 being made up almost entirely of agricultural 

 experts, who came to admire their own and 

 criticize their neighbours' cattle. The ordinary 

 townsfolk steered particularly clear of it, whilst, 

 being so frequently held in one or other of two 

 districts only, it lost the charm of novelty in those 

 parts. It was evident to me that the Society was 

 in a parlous state, and I had modesty enough to 

 feel that I was not man enough to set it on its legs. 

 So, having cleared up all outstanding matters and 

 brought the accounts and all else into a condition 

 enabling some one more capable than I was to 

 take up the work without being faced by any 



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