GENEEAL EEPOET. 
67 
tlieir regular duties. On the other hand, we hear of the or¬ 
ganization, during the present year, of some new societies in 
the counties far north, and confidently anticipate that the 
returns for 1868 will show a larger number earnestly at 
work than have ever hitherto reported. The law, as it now 
stands, requires the reports of county societies, to be made be¬ 
fore February 1st in each year, as a condition of their receiv¬ 
ing the $100 appropriated by the State. We are unable to 
discover any reason why these reports could not just as con¬ 
veniently be made at as early a date as December; thus en¬ 
abling this Society to embody the abstracts of the reports 
contemplated by law in the volume of that year for which 
they were made. And we, therefore, respectfully recom¬ 
mend such an amendment of the law in this particular as will 
secure the end proposed. Should the constitution of any so¬ 
ciety provide for the closing up of its fiscal accounts too late 
to render a report as early as the 10th of December impracti¬ 
cable, such constitution can easily be amended in that respect 
The State Agricultural Society continued such general la¬ 
bors as could be performed by the Secretary, until 1864, when 
it resumed the holding of regular annual exhibitions, with even 
more than former zeal and success, as will appear by a refer¬ 
ence to the proceedings of the Society and the reports herewith 
presented of its exhibitions for the several years since that date. 
Formerly—up to 1862—the Society received an appropria¬ 
tion from the State of three thousand dollars annually, to be 
awarded in premiums and for the purchase of seeds to be 
gratuitously distributed. That it made good and faithful 
use of this money, no one will question who is familiar 
with its history. But when it became apparent that the annu¬ 
al exhibitions would have to be discontinued for a time, owing 
to the disturbed condition of the country, this appropriation 
was withdrawn, with the concurrence of the Society, though 
with the understanding and expectation that it would be rein¬ 
stated at the close of the war, or so soon thereafter as it would 
be possible for the State to renew it 
