ii EEPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



EEPOETS OP DELEGATES 



APPOINTED TO VISIT THE 



AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 



ESSEX. 



It was my good fortune to be assigned as delegate to the Essex 

 County Society, which held its annual fair in Danvers, September 

 26 and 27, 1876. 



This Society has several characteristics that distinguish it from 

 others in the Commonwealth. It is one of the oldest, having cele- 

 brated its fifty-sixth anniversary the past year. It has no abiding 

 city or permanent locality for its exhibitions ; but having remained 

 in one part of the county for a year or more, it then folds its tents 

 and moves to pastures new, where it may scatter its benefactions 

 over some other section of its domain. 



The expediency of this course may be questioned in some of its 

 relations. But while many of the agricultural societies are largely 

 in debt, — having all their funds, and more, locked up in expensive 

 grounds and buildings, from whence little benefit is derived, save in 

 their use at the annual fair, — the Essex has its mone} r invested 

 where it will do the most good in annual interest, and where it is 

 available for use whenever needed. 



Its income from that source in 1875 was $1,969.68, or nearly one- 

 half of the amount received by all the other societies, the same ) T ear, 

 as income from their property, if we except the Massachusetts, 

 which holds no exhibition. 



Another peculiarity worthy of note, is the fact that no premium 

 has ever been paid b}' the Society for speed in horses. 



While it is claimed by many that no agricultural society can 

 long be successful and draw the people, without the excitement of 

 the sports of the turf, the Essex, for more than half a century, 



