180 



To this progressive principle the Norfolk Agricultural Society ows its exist- 

 once. It was the spirit in which it was born and nurtured — the spirit which 

 animates and sustains its manhood, whijh has controlled all its movements, 

 which has sustained its present pi'osperity, and established it on a permanent 

 and honorable foundation. 



Within the short pei'iod of five years, it has acquired funds to purchase the 

 grounds on which its shows have heretofore been held ; has paid for the struc- 

 tures and other accommodations for the stocks on exhibition, and the present 

 year has erected an Agricultural Hall, a building one hundred and thirty feet 

 in length, fifty-five in width, and twenty-eight in height. This edifice is 

 pronounced by competent judges firm and durable. It is of good architectural 

 proportions and external finish, and contains on the lower floor an exhibition 

 room and offices ; and on the upper floor a spacious dining and audience hall, 

 sufficient to accommodate at its tables more than one thousand persons. 



The whole expense of this edifice, its furniture, the ground on which it stands, 

 with its enclosures, will not fall much short of four thousand dollars. Of the 

 sum necessary to meet this expenditure, about fifteen hundred dollars will be 

 appropriated from the sale of the Society's bank stock ; which, with the liberal 

 donations of sundry gentlemen, and the receipts from the Ladies' Fair and 

 tickets of admission, it is confidently anticipated will come within a few hundred 

 dollars of covering the whole expense. 



For the increase of its funds the Society is indebted, among its donors, to 

 Messrs. Samuel D. Bradford, John A. Lowell, J. Wiley Ed'.r.auds, Robert C. 

 Hooper, George R. Russell and Robert Roberts, * in sums of fifty to two hun- 

 dred dollars each, and for smaller amounts to various other gentlemen, and also 

 ladies. Also, to new membei-s for admission fees, of which there have been 

 added nearly two hundred the present year, giving as a total one thousand names 

 on the roll of the Society. 



We are also especially happy to acknowledge our obligations to the ladies of 

 several of our towns, for their timely and eflicient aid, thus affording another 

 illustration of the happy manner in which they fulfil the appropriate mission of 

 woman, whom God made man's helpmeet, in dressing and keeping the ground. 



While we acknowledge with gratitude these favors, let us not be unmindful 

 of the kind Providence which has In so remarkable a degree continued the 

 lives and health of our members. On former occasions we have b:en called to 

 mourn the loss of distinguished friends and members ; but we now have the 

 happiness to rejoice In the preservation of all the Society's Executive officers, 

 and with only one exception, so far as my knowledge extends, — Nathaniel Col- 

 burn, of Dedhani, — of all of Its large Board of Trustees, ninety In number. 



Brother Farmers, in conclusion, permit me to congratulate you once more 

 upon the responsible and honorable position you occupy in society. At no for- 

 mer period has the Agriculturist and he who works with his own hands been 

 more esteemed ; and I rejoice In the belief that the time Is not far distant 



* Lyman Kinsley, Esq., of Canton, has since contributed fifty dollars. 



