Litchfield enquirer., 1844-02-08

following communication; for we have no doubt the officers of the Agricultural Society have dis charged their duties with fidelity, and with sin- gle desire to advance the interests of the AssOcia- tiOu. If in some particulars they have erred, it is because that {" to err is human" '-r l..
 MR. ADAs1s,--In consequence of the repeated calls of the several Committees of the Litch6eld Co. Agricultural Society, upon the farmers and mechanics of the county to come forward and sus- tain the object of the Society, brief history of its origin and success may not be improper at thIs time. Some time in the spring of 1899 notice was given to the inhabitants of the county to form anew Agricultural Society, he previous one having been dissolved ) special notice was given to MT. Jacob N. Blakeslee of Watertown with others to attend in its first organization Mir. B. being the only one in the south part of the county that dld' seven teen gentlemen, all practical farmers rom the va, rio,IS parts of the county assembled at Lltchheld and duly organized themselves into the Litchfeld County Agricultural Society. The objects of the Society were declared to be, "The promotion and improvement of Agriculture, Rural Economy, and Domestic Manufactures" In the selection of of1l- cers such gentlemen were practical and eihclent farmers were selected as Wm. Fl. Thompson Esq, of Litchfeld for President, Wm. C.. Sterling of Salisbury, Samuel Averil of New Preston, and Ja- bez N Blakeslee of Watertown for Vice Presidents, and Messrs. J. c. Amber of Bethlem, trederlck Buel and Charles Jones of Litcheld for Secretarles and Tr amrer; men GN of them who had beeu educa- ted in the principles ofthat old school which we have reason to fear has become nearly extinct, vz That he that 5y the plough would thrive, han.seJ must either hOId or dripe" The Executive Committee. appointed in pursuance of the regulations of the Society offered to the citizens of the county the small amount of monies as premiums, which. be- ing awarded strictly according to the principles ayowed by the Society, viz; Improvement Tn agrl- culture," with but one exception, and, that with out the knowledge of the committee at the hme.- The sole object of the Society was to encourage ac- tual improvement and not speculation; Qhe Socie- were imposed upon, and premium was awarded and paid to person for pair of cattle that took premium at the Berkshire Co. Agricultural Society the week previous speculation, and not actual improvement had been the prominent cause of the destruction of the first Society, many honorable and high minded men withdrew at once from the Socl- ety. After the annual Exhibition, choice of ofi- cers for 1910 was made, with determination on the part of the members to carry out the first prn- cpes of the Society, and to guard against any lm- position for the future. In the choice of officers, most of the gentlemen were reelected.
 It now became ::ecesS@ry that active measures should bc taken to restore the confidence that had ;,.cn lost as some of the members had withdrawn in consequence of disposition on the part of those mi ,rncf;caI fapaers to reap the fruits of others labors without the sCe0t and toH necessary to cu- tiyate the soil-With that perseverance and indus trv that never tires Mir. Blakeslee one of the
 
 cus dty and such was the confidence that not only those who had withdrawn but nearly 40 of his fel- low townsnen and others addcd their names to the Society. This was done by encouragement propo- sed to be given to full stocks of cattle whether large or small owned by persons exhibiting, as well as premiums to persons raising and owning stocks of cattle; also to ocks of sheep owned and raised by thc persons exhibiting them. These views having met with hearty response by gentlemen, members of the Society, were lad before the Executive Committee, and by them adopted as the only ones that would promote and establish the best inteie.s of an Agricultural Society, or in the language of tbe Constitution "securc the promotion and lm- nrovcrrc:. ii a.riculture." The Committee cfler- ed honorable premiums upon these principles
 The interest taken in Agricultural pursuits caus- ed the Legislature of this State at this time to sec o;,d the views of the several Societies by offering. upon conditions of strict compliance with their act !" a sum not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than two hi:dred dollars in any one year, provided that equal sum shall .e raised 5y con- frihution or tax oa the individuals composing the Society, which Society shall be incorporated."- The Society e-nrganlZed itself, and :.le same off, ccrs were rc-appoinfeis new impulse was thus given to the Society, increase of interest mani fested itself throughout the county. The annual fair :vas well attended, ard great Improvement in cattle was clearly visible. Mir. Elakeslee at this lime exhibited his full stock of cattle (about 40 head) not for premiums, but to show what could be done by improvement in the breed of cattle; he also exhibited some of his very fine sheep, for which ? he received premium. The Society at it's annu- al meeting made choice of the same officers, or nearly all of them, fer the ensuing year; and the . Executive Committee encouraged by the interest manifested by the fellow citizens of the county were induced to offer larger premiums than hereto fore; this provoked competition throughout the cou lty, and finer display, or it's equal has not been seen since the formation of the Society. The premiums offered by the Society were Sl5i,5O and after paying all there was found balance of IA in the Treasury. Mir. Blakeslee. with many of his fellow -ownsmen, came in fer his share and exhibited his farm which eight years before he s purchased it being in very low state of improve ? mcnt he was successful and received premium. Also, fine stock of cattle of 8 head, superior pair of cattle that put to the draught was not ex
 ceeded flock of D fine ewes, 10 very fine mer- no bucks, and two year old colt. Such was the result of the examination that Mt. B. received premiums upon nearly all he offered. ca
 This exhibition and awards gave great dissatis- faction to class of spectators who were in hab- it of reaping when they had not sowed," and un- less they could succeed in removing the highmin- ded and honorable men from their stations, who carried out the principles of the Society to the ve ry letter, (they by their own professions having ex cluded themselves from receiving any,) they were satisfied that such principles as the Society were governed by would not answer kteiv purpose; it became necessary that the present officers should be removed, and by consent they effected the same, aeaving none ofthe former officers who were instru
 mental in the formation or establishment of the Society and who had argued and carried out the principle of actual improvement. The officers for the year 1Si2 being regularly installed in office, the Executive Committee proceeded to offer pre- lnums for the exhibitions for the annual fair, and