liEPORTS, &c. 



i »«^ » 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



The first Cattle Show of the Essex Agricultural Society was 

 held, two years after its incorporation, at Topsfield, October 5th, 

 1820, From that time to the present, there have been nearly 

 every year, shows in the county, under the direction of the Society. 

 These have been held at different points, and of late, two or three 

 years successively at the same place, so as to equalize the benefits- 

 to be derived from them. 



It has been the judgment of the Society, that this Itinerating 

 system of holding its Shows is better adapted to the wants of Essex,^ 

 than that of establishing itself at some central part of the county^ 

 and having grounds and buildings of its own, as is the case in some 

 other counties. The question of a change in this respect, is often 

 started, many contending that the interests of the Society and the 

 agricultural community would be promoted by it. 



One thing however is certain, that there is no diminution in the 

 interest manifested by the public in attending our Annual Fairs. 

 On the contrary, Cattle Show days here, as elsewhere, are the 

 most popular holidays of the year. 



A more important question to be determined is, how to give a 

 right direction to these Shows so that they will not degenerate into 

 occasions of mere amusement ; how best to sustain them so as to 

 be productive of the most progress in agriculture ; how to call out, 

 not only admiring throngs of spectators, but earnest crowds of 

 competitors ; how to fill our show-pens with stock, surpassing in the 

 different points of excellence such as has heretofore been exhibited ; 

 how to induce our farmers to attempt oftener and more systema.t- 

 4 



