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work of a Secretary of an association like this is by no 

 means easv. Tlie numerous details are liable to bewilder, 

 the constant demands require great patience and good 

 nature, the decisions upon the publications of the trans- 

 actions, all these demand judgment and watchfulness and 

 impartiality and industry and readiness. All these, Mr. 

 Preston had. His work was well done in the preliminary 

 arrangements for the annual exhibition, in the conduct of 

 the fair, and in the publication of our proceedings in an- 

 nual reports which have secured a high reputation in the 

 agricultural literature of this Commonwealth. 



The period during which Mr. Preston served the society 

 as Secretary was an important one in the history of farm- 

 ing in this county. He saw the young men of the county 

 suddenly called into action on a field plowed by the cannon 

 and laid waste by the scourge of war. He saw the asso- 

 ciate industries increase and multiply on every hand, and 

 the radical changes in agricultural economy which a gi'ow- 

 ing and industrious community gathered around populous and 

 busy towns will create. He saw the whole purpose of agri- 

 culture materially changed. He saw the great progress 

 made in all the application of machinery to the work of the 

 farm. And he saw the devotion of all those who believe in 

 agriculture, to the work of scientific investigation and edu- 

 cation for its benefit. And at all times he was ready to 

 recognize the wants and necessities of the active and 

 changing years. 



The resolution which has been so unanimously adopted 

 but expresses the views of your committee on the work of 

 this valuable servant. And in recording this estimate of 

 his services, expression is given to the unanimous voice of 

 the Society. 



Geo. B. LoRiNG — C/iairman. 

 0. S. Butler, 

 Francis H. Appleton. 



