Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/174

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��HISTORY OF OHIO.

��— too many to bo mentioned in a volume like this. Under special subjects they will occasionally be found. The fiirmer's life, so cheerless in pioneer times, and so full of weary labor, is daily becom- ing less laborious, until, if they as a class profit by the advances, they can find a life of ease in farm pursuits, not attainable in any other profession. Now machines do almost all the work. They sow, cultivate, cut, bind, thresh, winnow and carry the grain. They, cut, rake, load, mow and dry the hay. They husk, shell and clean the corn. They cut and split the wood. They do al- most all ; until it seems as though the day may come when the farmer can sit in his house and simply guide the affairs of his farm.

Any occupation prospers in proportion to the interest taken in it by its members. This interest is always heightened by an exchange of views, hence societies and periodicals exercise an influence at first hardy realized. This feeling among prominent agriculturists led to the formation of agricultm-al' societies, at first by counties, then districts, then by States, and lastly by associations of States. The day may come when a national agricul- tural fair may be one of the annual attractions of America.

Without noticing the early attempts to found such societies in Hurope or America, the narrative will begin with those of Ohio. The first agricul- tural society organized in the Buckeye State was the Hamilton County Agricultural Society. Its exact date of organization is not now preserved, but to a certainty it is known that the Society held public exhibitions as a County Society prior to 1823. Previous to that date there were, doubt- less, small, private exhibitions held in older local- ities, pi'obably at Marietta, but no regular organi- zation seems to have been maintained. The Hamilton County Society held its fairs annually, with marked success. Its successor, the present Society, is now one of the largest county societies in the Union.

During the legislative session of 1832-33, the subject of agriculture seems to have agitated the minds of the people through their representatives, fur the records of that session show the first laws passed for their benefit. The acts of that body seem to have been productive of some good, for, though no records of the number of societies or- ganized at that date exist, yet the record shows that " many societies have been organized in con- formity to this act," etc. No doubt many societies held fairs from this time, for a greater or less

��number of years. Agricultural journals* were, at this period, rare in the State, and the subject of agricultural improvement did not receive that at- tention from the press it does at this time ; and, for want of public spirit and attention to sustain these fairs, they were gradually discontinued until the new act respecting their organization was passed in 184G. However, records of several county societies of the years between 1832 and 18-16 yet exist, showing that in some parts of the State, the interest in these fairs was by no means diminished. The Delaware County Society re- ports for the year 1833 — it was organized in June of that year — good progress for a beginning, and that much interest was manifested by the citizens of the county.

Ross County held its first exhibition in the autumn of that year, and the report of the mana- gers is quite cheerful. Nearly all of the exhibited articles were sold at auction, at greatly advanced prices from the current ones of the day. The en- try seems to have been free, in an open inclosure, and but little revenue was derived. Little was ex- pected, hence no one was disappointed.

Washington County reports an excellent cattle show for that year, and a number of premiums awarded to the successful exhibitors. This same year the Ohio Importation Company was organ- ized at the Ross County fair. The Company began the next season the importation of fine cattle trom England, and, in a few years, did incalculable good in this respect, as well as make considerable money in the enterprise.

These societies were re-organized when the law of 1846 went into eft'ect, and, with those that had gone down and the new ones started, gave an im- petus to agriculture that to this day is felt. Now every county has a society, while district, State and inter-State societies are annually held; all promotive in their tendency, and all a benefit to every one.

The Ohio State Board of Agriculture was organ- ized by an act of the Legislature, passed February 27, 1846. Since then various amendments to the organic law have been passed from time to time as

"miscellaneous," but contained many excellent articles on iigri- culture.
 * The Western TillerwsiB publiBlied in Cincinnati, in 1S20. It was

The Farmers^ Iteeord was published in Cincinnati, in 1831, and continued for sevcnil years.

The Ohio Furruer was published at Batavia, Clermont County, in 183:}, by Hon. Samuel Mertary.

These were the early agricultural journals, some of which yet survive, though in new names, and under new management. Others have, also, since been added, some of which have an exceedingly large circulation, and are an influence for much good in the State.

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