Because the membership fee is so small and the benefit 

 to the whole county so large. 



Because we need a fruit and vegetable building and a 

 flower building to make our Fair grounds practically- 

 complete. 



Because we should perpetuate all the good things that 

 the fathers left us. 



Because your membership and co-operation will help 

 us bring about all the above results. 



Life Membership only $3.00 to Men and Women, Boys 

 and Girls over twelve years of age; no assessments. 



WONDERFUL GROWTH OF THE SOCIETY 



The observance of the centenary of the Society, which 

 is one of the oldest agricultural societies in Massachu- 

 setts, was to have been made the outstanding feature 

 of its Fair, scheduled for October 3, 4, and 5, 1918. An 

 attractive program had been arranged and interest in the 

 occasion ran high throughout the county. "Man pro- 

 poses, and God disposes." In consequence of the pre- 

 vailing epidemic of influenza in the early Fall, the agri- 

 cultural fairs in the state were cancelled, and no fitting 

 commemoration of the anniversary was held. During 

 the year, however, the Society published its history, 

 written by Rev. T. Franklin Waters of Ipswich. The 

 pamphlet contains a comprehensive record of the incep- 

 tion, growth and development of the Society during its 

 first hundred years. 



In 1919, the 98th annual fair was held on September 

 26 and 27. The evening previous to the opening day a 

 terrific rain storm swept over the town, and the accom- 

 panying high wind blew down the main tent, and by 

 reason of the confusion resulting, the exhibits of fruits 

 and flowers were not displayed until about noon. The 

 exhibitors were few in number and the specimens of 

 fruits were of fair quality, but the attendance was most 

 disappointing. 



Again, in 1920, the attendance dropped to low level. 

 The large tent was not erected for this fair, and every- 

 thing was conducted on a small scale. The pessimists 

 openly declared that the days of the Society were num- 

 bered. This gloomy view of affairs was evident at the 

 annual meeting. At that time a committee, consisting 



