284 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



" While this Society holds no general fair like those held in other counties, yet 

 I still maintain that its monthly meetings, discussions, reports, papers, lectures, 

 exhibit?!, and experimental work, are a means of disseminating among the agricul- 

 tural masses of the county as much practical and useful knowledge, without mix- 

 tare of evil, as any County Society in the State." 



W. B. FiicK, 



Secretarg. 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



The fifth annual exhibition of the Montgomery County Agricultural Associa- 

 tion was nothing but a repetition of former years. The weather, our best friend, 

 -was all that could have been asked for, and taken in connection with the immense 

 «xhibit, we had everything to induce a very liberal patronage. 



In speaking of our patronage, let me say that jierhaps in no other county in 

 the State does the public in general bestow as much interest on their county fair 

 as do the people of Montgomery county. You may ask, Why is it so ? There ia 

 apparently no other solution to the mystery beyond the fact that they are sure to 

 see the bL-st fair in the State. No doubt the reader may think I am placing a very 

 iigh estimate upon it. So I am, but not beyond what it justly de.serves. 



We always offt-r liberal premiums and pay them in full (the only guarantee to 

 -a. long lived fair), and as a fact the public have not only confidence but a desire to 

 patronize. 



Of our exhibit nothing need be said, as all who are in the habit of reading 

 these reports will have gleaned from those of former years the fact that the word 

 success applies fully to every department ; nor was this behind any of former 

 years, but rather more complete. 



I feel that a statement of what showing we have made financially would be in 

 ■order, hence the following : 



For our grounds (sixty-three acres) we paid S12,572, upon which improvements 

 have been placed a{ a cost of 820,000; thus making a total outlay of over §32,000, 

 with a capital stock of S14,675. The reader can readily see that $18,000 more 

 than the capital stock has been expended. From the success of five exhibitions 

 this debt, together with interest, has been almost wiped out, the indebtedntss of 

 the association being to-day a little less than §900. Had not the association suf- 

 fered a loss of over $1,000 by fire to stalls on which there was no insurance, we . 

 "would not have an indebtedness to-day of one dollar, but, to the contrary, would 

 Jiave money in the treasury. 



With the coming spring our board intend placing some very substantial im- 

 provements on the ground in the shape of a fine grand stand, secretary and treas- 

 urer's office, with directors' room attached, and a large agricultural hall. The 

 ground will also be laid off with fine graveled drives. 



Vast improvement in the county has been accomplished in the last few years in 

 the way of drainage, making what used to be our non-productive land the most 



