SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



More than ordinary efforts were made by the officers of the 

 Society for the success of the Quarter-Centennial Exhibition. 

 Some of the results of these efforts were manifest, not only upon 

 both days of the Fair, but also in the very large number of en- 

 tries made on the day previous. So far as practicable, everything 

 intended for exhibition should be entered before the day of the 

 Fair. We are very glad to see a marked improvement in this di- 

 rection, but it can and should be done much more generally. 



The success of all exhibitions of this kind, financially, as well as 

 in all other departments, depends so largely upon the state of the 

 weather on the da^-s of the exhibition, that there is always gi-eat 

 risk in laying plans that incur much expense. If we could always 

 be sure of tine weather for both days, we might enlarge our plan 

 of operations considerably, and have no fears of an empty trea- 

 sury at the close of the year. The weather, this year, did not 

 have in it all the elements of success. The first day was very 

 rainy, and the second, though not rainy, was cloudy and threaten- 

 ening, which of course kept many from attending. Notwithstand- 

 ing this serious drawback, the exhibition was good in all depart- 

 ments. There was an unusually fine display of stock of all kinds 

 on the grounds, much more thoroughbred stock than we often 

 have ; a good show of horses in all the different classes ; while in 

 the hall the exhibition was above the average, the display of vege- 

 tables, fi'uits, and flowers, being especially fine. We have every 

 reason to believe, that, but for the rain, the exhibition would have 

 been finer in all departments, and the attendance much larger, 

 still it was in every way creditable to the Society. 



It is certain that among a portion of the members there is a 

 growing interest in the welfare of the Society. This is encourag- 

 ing, so far as it goes, and should be noticed and appreciated by 

 all. What the Society needs, to-day, is that all the members 



