Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-01-08
THE ADDISON COUNTY AGRloULT URAl
I SOolETY's ANNUAL MEETING

I SOClETY's ANNUAL MEETING
Tine annual meeting of the society Was
d)eld at the Addison House on Wednesday.
1t was called to order by President Bis-
sell. The minutes of the last meeting
were read. The secretary read his re-
port, which was accepted and adopted as
follows:
sECRETARYs REPORT.
The last annual fair OF the society in
many respects successful and in one respect
failure The membership is increased to
&c., nearly 100 more than last year, and l57
more than two years ago. The interest of the
public in the fair has greatly increased, the
patronage is much larger than ever before;
they recognize and appreciate the efforts OF
the society to eliminate everything that Is
immoral or Objectionable from the grounds.
The receipts OF the fair the last year were
larger than ever before, but-nnd here j.
| where the failure lics-we We're altogether too
| liberal in our offers of premiums, and conse
quently we did not have enough money to
| pay everything in full. The ultimate result
OF continuation OF this policy Is obvious. 1t
involves certain ruin 1t is better TO oiler
One.dollar premium and pay ii than Il two
dollar premium and pay Il dollar ana Il hall of
! it. 1t gives better satisfaction to the exhibit
ors, and we rs society certainly would feel
better about it. am tired OF explaining The
reasons why we DIDN'T pay our premiums in
! tull last tall. Last year IN tintained that the
premiums were too large and proposed cut
ting them down, especially in the sheep class
es. Well they were cut down, but additions
were made to other classes until the total
footed 100 dollars more than the year before.
! OF course you know the result. change
should be made this year that will enable us
to pay our obligations in the future dollar tor
dollar, and if we have something left so much
the better. We offer larger premiums than
we can afford to ON cattle. The horse depart
ment also would stand curtailing. We offer
| as much in some classes OF thi department rs
the state lair or Breeders meeting. And pre-
miums on Merino sheep could certainly stand
IA big reduction. know am stepping on
dangerous ground TO advocate anything seem
ingly detrimental to Merino sheep right here
in Addison county, but am going to say what
think Just the same. 1t is useless to repeat
that the interest in them t. dying out Every
one knows that il is. Early in the eighties
the exhibit OF Merino sheep ut our fairs was
very large ana the pens were continual sur
rounded by admiring crowds ana we offered
in premiums then the sum OF A. dollars. Last
year three or tour breeders made creditable
exhibits. few people wandered through the
| barn to see the big Shropshire ram that
| weighed $50 lbs. or Whereabouts or to view the
poultry exhibit up stairs, and our premium OF.
| ers were 1872 dollars. At the meeting OF the eX-
ecutive board last winter "A gentleman who is
| well known as II breeder, and who has served
rs president OF the VI. NJ, ). b. association,
told us, when ii was suggested to make the
premiums on all Kinds OF sheep alike, that
inc " aristocracy OF the Merino sheep put
them on "A higher level than the common
Shropshires or Cotswolds, and should
consider this and make the premiums proper
tionately higher" and enough of the members
OF the board were OF the same mind to do so.
But hardly think we can afford to pay tor
this "aristocracy" any longer, and shall be
greatly surprised il the executive board do
not make II large reduction in the premiums
in this class. In the poultry class think we
are paying out too much money in premiums
because there are great many varieties OF
fowls entered tor premium that are not wor
thy to receive one ana III many cases the pre-
MUM is more than they would sell tor. This
class should be changed somewhat The class
es of needle and fancy work and artistic need
remodeling. For many years we have offered
no premiums on manufactures OF wood and
iron. 1t would be II good plan to award iii.
plomas, costing but little to the society but
.f.rllx nd Ia he N
Gus exhibits OF farm machinery and all wood
ana iron exhibits, To be awarded by Judges
selected stor the purpose. The races NJ ON
= last iair were the best and most interesting
ever seen in this county, and the track now
holds the state two-year-old record, 80 2,
r but think ii would be good policy TO limit
entries in the colt races to colts owned in the
t State, The members present should bear in
mind that this is the society's legislative
body the executive board il but committee,
but generally given full power to act Any
vote taken today regarding any part OF the
: business coming before the executive board
is binding and they cannot override such a
. vote. II you desire to be heard, now is the
f time, and il you desire any change made, now
is the time to suggest II.
a: In closing wish to thank the officers OF the
society tor the aid so cheerfully given on eV
: cry occasion when needed 1t Is this harmo
ny in action which makes an undertaking sue
cessful. Respectfully submitted.
FRANK &. DYER, Sec'y.
The meeting then proceeded to the
: election of officers. ii. j. Hyde of Sails
DuTN InONtu lildl the Nlltu dpIolul u YUM
mttee of five to nominate officers fol the
: year ensuing and the motion prevailed
d The chair appointed as such committed
IL. }. Hyde, c. A. Chapman, c. L. Crane
V. V. Blackmer and ii. f. Sanford. They
u reported the following, who were elected
e President, Edgar y. Bissell of East Shore
k ham; Independents, c. +. Crane o
Bridport, ii. +. Sanford of West Corn
wall; secretary, Frank c. Dyer of Yves
d Salisbury; treasurer, j. a. James of Wey
IS bridge; directors, John f. Dyer of Yves
= Salisbury, l.. +. Moore of Shoreham, lr
l.. IIamblin of Cornwall, A. Wilcox O
Bridport, V. V. Backmer of Orwell
. town managers, Ben w. Smith of Add
.s son, j. 4. Wilcox of Bridport, w. A
- Lawrence of Bristol, e. II. Lane of Corr
~ wall, II. Parker of Ferrisburgh, ). ii
Washburn of Goshen, 5. F. Hubbard c
. Granville, H. A. Durham of Hancocl
- Burt Alden of Leicester, c. G. Butte
= field of Lincoln, Darwin Rider of Mid
u dlahury II r. Williams of MOnktOl