The pecuniary results to the society and the popularity of our annual gatherings are unquestioned; and the fact that there are at least four town organizations within the limits of the county, which have sprung into existence during the past ten or twelve years, is sufficient evidence of the strength and influence of the parent society. This fact alone would seem to be conclusive as to the beneficial working of the county association in one respect at least, and if there has been a corresponding advance in agricultural science and practice, we must be satisfied that our labors have not been in vain. That there has been a marked improvement in the various branches of agricultural industry during the past fifteen years, no one will deny. That the society has had some share in promoting this advance, is equally certain, although there are doubtless many other influences at work to bring about this result. The steady advance in the price of land, and of late years in the price of labor, and all the implements and tools of the farmer, has necessitated a more thoughtful and careful study of agriculture as a profession, and this has led to correspondingly better crops, more perfect animals, and marked improvements in agricultural machinery. As the country fills up year by year; as the influence and wants of the large cities and towns become more extended; and as the increased railroad facilities bring us nearer to the markets, so will the character of our farming change, and of a necessity improve and advance, unless we are willfully blind to our own interests, and stand supinely still while all the world moves on around us. Let it be the aim and study of the Otsego County Agricultural Society to be foremost in every good work, and so elevate the standing of our farmers and our farming, that we may maintain a leading position among the kindred associations of the State. RECEIPTS. ... Balance of cash in the treasury January, 1868 Cash received at the ticket office January 1, 1869. $942 11 10 00 210 30 835 00 1,401 24 The officers for 1869 are: President, Henry Roseboom, of Roseboom; Secretary, Horace M. Hooker, Cooperstown; Treasurer, Frederick G. Lee, Cooperstown. HENRY ROSEBOOM, President. PUTNAM. The undersigned, the president, secretary and treasurer of the Putnam County Agricultural Society, do respectfully report, that the annual fair of the society was held on the 16th, 17th and 18th days of September, 1868, on the society's grounds, in Carmel, and was in all respects a complete success. The show of live stock was good, and the spacious building of the society was filled with the agricultural products of the county, and with specimens of mechanical skill of rare excellence. The receipts of the society for the past year were: From State Treasurer... From proceeds of subscriptions, &c., at fair.. From life memberships. Other donations.. Total $47 50 1,941 53 190 00 56 00 $2,235 03 DANIEL D. CHAMBERLAIN, President, GEORGE W. GREGORY, Secretary, DATED AT CARMEL, December 31, 1868. QUEENS. Under the good providence of God, who has promised us a return of seed time and harvest so long as the world endures, we have been brought to the close of another year's labor and duty, and it becomes us to review the same, so that the cause of defects may be traced and removed, and success established. Experience proves that the sphere of our operations is by no means narrow, or our object unworthy intelligent and increased effort; and while our present success is highly gratifying to us as a society, we must remember that, ere we reach the standard to which we aim, many difficulties must be met and deficiencies overcome. It is the duty of the board of managers to manage the property and concerns of the society as will best promote the interest of agriculture, horticulture, the mechanic arts and household industry, and by so doing we shall elevate the condition of our farmers, and, at the same time, add to the comfort and well-being of even the humblest classes of society. At the last annual meeting the constitution was so amended as to admit non-residents to membership, with the privilege of competing for premiums. The necessity for this change has been long apparent, and it has been found to work to the benefit of the society. Several professional fruit growers from a distance have exhibited with us, thus giving our members an opportunity of examining many fine fruits grown at other places, and comparing them with those grown here. Many other articles from distant places have also been exhibited, which will no doubt be found beneficial to the county. The advantages of a permanent location have been fully demonstrated; we are no longer compelled to follow an itinerant life, holding annual exhibitions with inadequate accommodation for all and every class of exhibitors, expending money in erecting unsuitable buildings, which in a few days were torn down, the lumber sold at half price, and the cost of labor nearly all thrown away. When we look back at our imperfect system, pursued so many years, we wonder that the society was enabled to maintain an existence at all. For the first twenty-five years we may be considered to have led a pioneer life, camping out, clearing up the way, and sowing the seed which has resulted in our present success; and although at times discouraged, we always maintained a believing conviction that the intelligence and wealth of old Queens would, at some distant day, place our society in the foremost rank as the first county agricultural society in the Empire State. Another advantage of having a permanent home is evident by the increase of exhibitors, resident and non-resident members; for, notwithstanding it rained every day during our late exhibition, the receipts from members' dues and entrance tickets exceed those of last year; our friends find that stock entrusted to our care can be comfortably taken care of, and the property of exhibitors securely kept. Some of our friends thought that Mineola would not be the most suitable place for a permanent location, and the argument used against its selection was, that it was too far from the cities of New York and Brooklyn to secure the attendance of visitors from those places. The result, however, proves different. In 1862 the fair was held at the Fashion Course, extra efforts were made to secure a large attendance, special premiums to the amount of $470 were donated, yet the receipts from New York and Kings county members amounted to only $165. Again in 1865, at the same place, with special premiums of $400, beautiful weather, and among the attractions many of the most valuable horses in the State, the receipts from all the non-resident members amounted to $161. Three fairs have been held at the permanent grounds, and the total receipts from non-resident members, principally from New York and Kings counties, foot up the handsome sum of $1,407. Let us contrast our present home, with its finished buildings and accommodations, with its closely mown lawns, its railroad facilities, its varieties of deciduous and evergreen trees, with our former nomadic life, with tents at the best, or the objectionable hemlock board con structions, and who will not at once recognize the refining influences of our present well furnished grounds, incomplete as they yet are. Agreeable with the suggestion made by the retiring president, in his annual address last year, the board of managers resolved to discontinue the issue of family tickets, except to life members, and to substitute an annual member's ticket, accompanied with three passes, with the privilege of entering any article or stock for competition; also for ladies to enter any fancy articles or needle-work free with a pass on the grounds during the fair. The privilege in both cases to extend to those only who purchased, or made entries before the exhibition. It was thought that this plan, so equal in its operations as regards members, would have been received with general favor, especially as it closed up the main avenue of imposition to which the society had been so long subject-at the same time, it offered an inducement to purchase tickets before the fair from the officers and town committees, thus placing us in possession of a more reliable revenue in case of disaster. We cannot think that the objections to this improved plan are made by those desirous of promoting the best interests of the society. If, however, it is found to work to our disadvantage, the resolution can be amended. Few societies are more liberal than ours. We find, on examining various premium lists sent us, that it is customary to charge one dollar for entries in each class, except for horses, for which three dollars are claimed, and when the premium amounts to fifty dollars or more, ten per cent. extra is charged. In our society, for one dollar paid, a person receives a member's ticket, with three extra passes worth ninety cents, making the actual cost of the tickets only ten cents, with the privilege of entering any articles or stock for competition in all the classes, and for an extra dollar a member's carriage ticket, giving the right to drive weekly on the grounds, and every day during the fair. There cannot surely be many who desire more liberal arrangements, when the expense of keeping the grounds in proper condition is taken into consideration. Two years ago the debt of the society amounted to $9,500. It has been a matter of principle with us to reduce the debt as fast as possible, in justice to those from whom the money was borrowed to construct the buildings and improve the grounds. During the past year $3,000 have been paid off, and within eighteen months $4,500 of our indebtedness has been canceled, besides paying for the various improvements made since the debt was contracted. "Out of debt |