were fortunate in securing the attendance of Governor Russell who 

 proved an attraction without an expense to the society. The Execu- 

 tive Committee decided that the property must be improved before 

 the debt could be reduced, as our grounds have not presented an 

 attractive appearance for some years. The old stand had become 

 unsafe and past repair and it was decided to build a new covered 

 stand, for which purpose a subscripti<m paper was started and mem- 

 bers and friends were asked to contribute. The response was so 

 generous that a better stand was erected than was anticipated, and 

 we now have a stand that will last many years and is an ornament to 

 our grounds. Stables have been built for stock by members, at their 

 expense, and given to the Society subject to their use when in atten- 

 dance and it is hoped that more will be built the coming year. Races 

 were held on our grounds July 4th, resulting in a gain to the Society 

 of sixty dollars which was expended in building and repairing the 

 fence. Including the stables we have spent about $700 in repairs, 

 an amount nearly equal to our indebtedness, further improvements 

 are to be made the coming year in repairing and painting the hall 

 and building new pens for stock. With another as good year as this 

 we could complete all repairs necessary for some years, and with our 

 improved grounds and better accommodations would have little 

 difficulty in paying our debt. In accordance with a vote passed by 

 the State Board of Agriculture a list of members is published but the 

 list is not complete, as some of the records were destroyed by fire in 

 1879. Any members whose narats do not appear on the list and who 

 will prove their membership will have their names added. The last 

 list was published in 1882 and it is with regret that in ten years so 

 many names are omitted, death having removed so many of our early 

 members. In order that belter reference may be made to more 

 recent members, from 1882 the names are given by years o( member- 

 ship. The Society would be greatly benefited in the accomplish- 

 ment of its work if more farmers would become members and assist 

 iu making our fair a success, as it deserves to be and would be if the 

 farmers of Eastern Hampshire and citizens of Amherst determined 

 that it should be. Believing that there is a growing interest among 

 members and citizens which it continued in a few years will place our 

 society in a prosperous condition, and thanking the officers who have 

 labored so faithfully and the members and friends who assisted and 

 contributed so generously, and hoping for contii.ued success, I am 



Very truly, 



H. C. Nash, Jr. 



