136 



was placed as Chairman of the Committee of Delegates, and 

 the partial responsibility of trying to start the plan on a suc- 

 cessful footing seems to have fallen on me. I hope that I shall 

 be able to make ray report of some value and interest with the 

 assistance that I may receive. 



While members of clubs and associations, who may visit 

 other fairs than their own, will undoubtedly secure information 

 that will be made known to their fellow members, at the same 

 time, through our Committee of Delegates, much informaiion, 

 which can be gleaned from the various fairs that occur, can be 

 reported and then be printed in the Essex Society's Transac- 

 tions, and run the chance of reaching others in their own field 

 of work, whom they themselves may not reach, and also very 

 many others all over the county. 



Such a report might result in an increased variety of 

 thought and interest, lead others into new fields of work, and 

 be the means of drawing out inventive genius, or stimulating 

 ambition, which often lies dormant until aroused by some new 

 train of thought. I state a few examples which occur to me : 



The admirable plan of visiting farms, adopted by the West 

 Newbury Club, I feel sure is known and understood but little 

 among the farmers of the county generally, who could profit 

 much and have their plan of farming bettered by receiving 

 similar visits several times during a season. 



To be sure there are always some few who would be slow to 

 adopt such an advanced plan, but an explanation ought to 

 overcome their objections. It certainly must tend to improve 

 the individual farm and its owner, and suggest many possible 

 benefits that could result, including the formation of a club 

 and attendance at its discussions and conversations. (See 

 account of the Club later on.) 



I have secured plans of, action from several clubs, whether 

 they have had shows or not, and I am sure they must be gen- 

 erally useful and interesting. I hope that by representing the 

 pleasures, as well as the more solid advantages, to be derived 

 from clubs, to succeed in inducing new localities to form them 



