344 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



The condition of our agriculture by the test of the census 

 figures is very satisfactory. An impartial and quite satis- 

 factory test for judging of the vitality of the agriculture of 

 our State may be made by examining the exposition of its 

 character, as manifested in the action of the people through 

 the Legislature, in establishing and maintaining a Board of 

 Agriculture, an Agricultural College, an Experiment Station 

 prior to the action of the Federal government, and numerous 

 agricultural societies, — all receiving the bounty of the State, 

 in a liberal provision annually paid. 



It cannot be questioned, that to the efforts of our agricul- 

 tural societies is to be attributed in a great measure the 

 general advancement of practical agriculture among us. 

 They have encouraged by premiums and stimuhited by honor- 

 able competition ; they have excited greater interest in the 

 objects of agricultural labor, difi'used information respecting 

 it among the people, and elevated the standard of good 

 husbandry. 



It has been often printed, and commonly believed, that the 

 first cattle show and fair ever held in this country was at 

 Pittsfield, in Berkshire County, in 1814. While this is true as 

 of a " cattle show " for the exhibition of stock, for that merely 

 and for premiums for the best, yet, for early activity in a 

 united effort to advance agricultural interests in this State, 

 the town of Hard wick, in Worcester County, is the first. 



June 12, 1762, was passed " An Act for setting up a Fair 

 in the Town of Hardwicke in the County of Worceslev.'' 



Be it enacted by the Goveruor, Council and House of Represen- 

 tatives, That henceforth there may be kept a Fair in said Hard- 

 wicke^'on the third Wednesday and Thursday of May, and on the 

 third Wednesday and Thursday of October annually. 



And be it farther enacted, That the said Town of Hardwicke 

 be, and hereby are, enabled at a Meeting called for that Purpose, 

 to chuse proper Officers to Regulate said Fair, until the annual 

 Meeting in March next, and to be chosen thereafter annually in 

 the Month of March during the Continuance of this Act. 



And be it further enacted, That no Bargain and Sale made at 

 any of the said Fairs, shall be deemed valid and effectual in the 

 Law, unless the same be made between Sun-rising and Sun-setting. 



This Act to continue and be in Force for the Space of seven 

 Years from the first Day of July next, and no longer. 



