Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/209

 HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��ever, a joint-stock company was formed, and not long after thirteen acres of land in the vil- lage purchased. The grounds were put in the best of order, and are now among the first in this part of Ohio. The fair draws a large pat- ronage from adjoining counties, especially from Huron and Crawford. Premiums are generally paid promptly, and bring a good class of exhib- itors.

The present officers are John K. Brant, Pres- ident; Joseph Conley. Vice President ; A. B. Gilson, Treasurer ; J. Frank Beelman. Secre- tary ; and P. S. Brink, Superintendent.

The foregoing history gives the county three distinct societies. Whether it can well support that number, remains a problem. Each one was a good one in its day: but at present only two maintain an active existence. A good fair, well attended l\y the farmers, for whom it is primarily intended, cannot fail to l»e of great benefit to them. Strange as it may appear, however, generally that class is the last to move energet- ically in the matter, and does not uniformly give the fair that attention due to it by them.

HortlcnlturaJ ^Societies. — Horticulture, so near akin to agriculture, may well be noticed in this connection. From the earliest settlement of the county there have been those who took a deep interest in the cultivation of fruit. Probably the earliest horticulturist in this county, if not in Ohio, was the famous .John Chapman, better known as • Johnny Appleseed." whose singular history is elsewhere narrated. Many of the best nurseries in this and adjoining coun- ties trace their beginning to his erratic wander- ings. Following him. were those early em- igrants, who, having become accustomed to rich fruit in their Eastern homes, planted seeds and sprouts, grafted fruits, and. from time to time, im- proved the varieties introduced into this region. Improvement in one place suggested impro^e- ment in another, and thus gradually better grades of fruit found their way into the farm- ers' cellars, and to the market. By and by.

��consultations among neighbors, and an exchange of seeds and grafts, led to the desire in the minds of many for a society' whose object should be the discussion of, and the interchange of views regarding, fruit culture.

Late in tlje season of 1873 (December 11), a meeting of prominent fruit-gTowers in the county decided that, on December 20, a meeting of all those whose minds favored the idea, should be held in the count}' seat, and a horticultural so- ciety organizted. That day, about thirty of those who were interested in fruit culture assembled, in defiance of the muddy roads, and proceeded to the formation of the society. Dr. Perkins Bige- low was called to the chair, and J. E. Wharton appointed Secretary. The Doctor explained the object of the meeting, and called upon the Secretary to read the constitution that had been prepared by the committee appointed for that purpose December 11. It was adopted. An election for officers then ensued, resulting in the choice of F. R. Palmer, President; Samuel Nail, Vice President; J. E. Wharton, Secretary, and Dr. Bigelow, Treasurer. An executive committee, consisting of the following gentle- men, was also chosen: John Booth. C. Elliott, S. S. Smith, R. M. Coulter, and H. Golliday. By-laws were then submitted and approved, and the " Richland Horticultural Society " was an actual fact. Before adjourning, it was decided that the first meeting for discussion should be held February 14. 1874, in the library rooms.

That day quite a number of persons assem- liled, and, after the opening addresses by the elected officers, an interesting and instructive exhibition of fruits was shown, exhibiting the varieties grown in the county. These were dis- cussed, and views regarding their best modes of culture given. Subjects for the next meeting were selected, and the meetings, it was deter- mined, should be held each month.

Since that time regular monthly meetings are held during the year, save in the winter, where all kinds of fruits are exhibited and discussed;

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