SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



The show of fruit, flowers and vegetables in the Hall 

 were never exceeded, the works of art ori exhibition 

 were numerous, and showed a decided and commend- 

 able improvement from the past, and several labor saving 

 machines were on exhibition, all of which found their 

 admirers. 



After dinner on Wednesday, the Society met at the 

 lower Town Hall to hear the Reports of Committees, 

 and to listen to remarks of several eminent gentlemen 

 from abroad, who graced the occasion w 7 ith their pres- 

 ence. The President of the Society, the Hon. Ohio 

 Whitney, Jr., opened the exercises by remarking that 

 the pleasure derived from such exhibitions was mainly 

 owing to the fact of their being home pleasures, and 

 the different objects brought our minds to the loved 

 ones, around our own hearthstones. He congratulated 

 the members on the success which had attended their 

 efforts, and although the sound of war was heard in our 

 beloved land, he believed that there was a prospect of 

 an early peace, and that the interests of agriculture 

 would not in the end materially suffer. He concluded 

 his remarks by introducing Phineas Steadman, Esq., of 

 Chicopee, delegate of the State Board of Agriculture, 

 who said that he believed farmers were anxious to 

 cultivate too much land, and not careful enough to keep 

 themselves from debt, and to economise in labor and fer- 

 tilizers. He referred to the careless manner of too many 

 farmers who were not systematic enough to succeed in 

 any kind of business ; it was easy to accumulate wealth 

 and become more independent and noble. He urged 

 farmers to carefully watch the stable and poultry yard, 

 and to save everything that would enrich the land, 

 and thought that thirty hens properly kept would make 



