The treasurer's report, made at the annual meeting, presents the state of the finances as in a fair, if not, under all the circumstances, a prosperous condition. Whole amount of receipts for the year, $2,549 28 Whole amount of disbursements, 2,306 63 Leaving in the hands of the treasurer a balance of...... $240 65 Add to this the amount due from the State,..... 180 00 And it leaves a balance of...... $420 65 There is still due and unpaid, to competitors for premiums, the sum of..... 126 00 Which deducted, leaves in the hands of the treasurer,.. ..... $294 65 The items which make up the amount above received, are as follows: The items which make up the amount disbursed are as follows: Cash paid F. N. Mann, late treasurer, for money advanced, $34 81 There was also awarded at the last fair, as premiums, 27 volumes of Transactions, and 93 diplomas. The Society held its annual Cattle Show and Fair on the 25th, 26th and 27th of September last. The exhibition exceeded, in the various departments of agriculture, horticulture, the manufacturing and mechanic arts, any county fair that preceded it. A plowing match was held on the morning of the third day, in which there were eight competitors, who interested a vast multitude in the display of their activity and skill. An able and interesting address was delivered on the fair ground by the Hon. John P. Beekman, of Columbia. It is estimated that during the three days of the fair not less than twenty thousand persons visited the exhibition. ANNUAL MEETING, FEB'Y 5.—Officers for 1850. President, L. Chandler Ball, of Hoosick; Recording Secretary, John J. Viele, of Troy; Corresponding Secretary, John Fitch, of Troy. Mr. Selden gave notice that at the next meeting of the Society, he should move an amendment of the constitution, requiring that the officers of this society shall hereafter be elected by ballot. He should also move an amendment requiring that the treasurer give security for the monies he received on account of the Society. The Society proceeded to elect vice presidents, four from the city of Troy and one from each of the towns. Executive committee for the ensuing year, Martin Springer, Robert H. Hyde, Isaac T. Grant, Joseph Hastings, B. B. Kirtland, Geo. M. Selden, William Buswell, Le Grand B. Cannon, William Newcomb, Isaac Miller. The annual address was delivered by the President, E. N. Pratt, Esq. At the close of the address, the newly elected President was introduced to the Society, who made his acknowledgments for the honor conferred upon him. A vote of thanks was tendered to the late president, E. N. Pratt, Esq. RICHMOND. It is with much gratification that we record the proceedings of the farmers and others of Richmond county, which resulted in the formation of an agricultural society. There are but few counties in the State in which there is not now an efficient society; and we trust that another year will add to the number the few counties that are without an organization. According to notice previously given, a meeting was held at the court house, in Richmond village, Monday, Dec. 17th, at 12 o'clock noon, for the purpose of organizing a county agricultural society. On motion of Dr. Ephraim Clark, Harman B. Cropsey, Esq., was called to the chair, and Frederick L. Olmstead and E. J. Dunning were chosen secretaries. The chairman stated that the project of forming an agricultural society for the county of Richmond was first started in the "Farmers' Club," which has been in operation for some time past in the vicinity of Richmond village, and that a committee had been formed from that body to take the necessary steps for the calling of this meeting, and to draft a constitution to be presented for its approval. The proposed constitution was then read, and its several provisions separately adopted. It is as follows: CONSTITUTION. Art. 1. This society shall be called the Richmond County Agricultural Society, and shall be an auxiliary of the New-York State Agricultural Society. Its object shall be to encourage the application of science, skill, and taste to the improvement of Agriculture, Horticulture, and the kindred arts in this county. Art. 2. Any citizen of Richmond county may become a member, by signing the constitution and paying the sum of one dollar, and may retain his membership by continuing thereafter the annual payment of the same sum. The payment of fifteen dollars at any one time shall constitute a membership for life, and shall exempt the donor from the annual fee of membership. The board of managers may elect honorary and corresponding members. Art. 3. The officers of the society shall consist of a president, one vice-president from each town, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary, a treasurer, and one manager from each town, who, together with the executive officer of any association which shall become auxiliary to this society, shall constitute a board of managers, any five of whom shall form a quorum for the transaction of business. Art. 4. The corresponding secretary shall carry on the correspondence with other societies and with individuals, in furtherance of the objects of the society, and perform such other duties as may be assigned him by the board of managers. The recording secretary shall keep the minutes of the society and of the proceedings of the board of managers, and perform such other duties as may be assigned him by the board of managers. The treasurer shall keep the funds of the society, and disburse them on the order of the president or a vice-president, countersigned by the recording secretary, and shall make a report of the receipts and expenditures at the annual meeting. The board of managers shall take charge of, and distribute or preserve seeds, plants, books, models, &c., &c., which may be transmitted to the society, and shall also have charge of all communications designed or calculated for publication, and, so far as they may deem expedient, shall collect, arrange, and publish the same, together with the proceedings of the society. It shall be their duty to appoint, yearly, one member from each town, who, together with the vice-president as the chairman, and the manager from the same town, shall constitute a "standing committee," to superintend the concerns of the society in their respective towns, and who may be requested by the treasurer to collect moneys due to the society in their respective towns. Art. 5. There shall be an annual meeting of the society on the first Monday in February in each year, at the county court house, at which time the officers shall be elected by a plurality of votes, by ballot. The board of managers shall have power to fill any vacancies which may occur in the offices of the society during the year. Extra meetings may be called by the board of managers. The constitution may be altered by a vote of two-thirds of the members attending at any annual meeting of the society. The gentlemen present then proceeded to sign the constitution, after which, on motion, the society proceeded to the election of president by informal ballot. At the first balloting, Col. Nathan Barrett had a plurality of votes, and was, upon motion of Wm. H. Vanderbilt, Esq., chosen President by acclamation. The following officers were then elected: Haynes Lord of Castleton, J. H. Seguine, Westfield, John T. Harrison, Northfield, D. L. Clawson, Southfield, Vice-presidents; A. H. Britton, Southfield, J. C. Garretson, Westfield, A. Field, Castleton, Managers; Farnham Hall, Treasurer; F. L. Olmstead, Corresponding Secretary; E. J. Dunning, Recording Secretary. On motion of James Guyon, it was then resolved, that the managers be requested to draft a set of by-laws, and present them for the approval of the society at its next meeting. On motion, resolved, that the proceedings of this meeting, together with the constitution of this society, be published in the Staten Islander. The society then adjourned, to meet at the court house on the first Monday of February next. E. J. DUNNING, Recording Secretary. ROCKLAND. The Annual Fair was held on the 5th and 6th of October, and large numbers of farmers and friends of the society, were in attendance. The exhibitions of animals and articles were more numerous than usual, and of a better quality. The mechanics of the county added very much to the interest of the exhibition, by the number of agricultural implements they presented. The plows, corn-shellers, &c., were of the most improved kind, and well calculated to aid the farmer in the work of the farm. The floral department was quite extensive, and highly creditable to the ladies; and the needle work, &c. exhibited at the Fair, gave us increased assurance that hereafter our Fair will be more interesting. The Isabella grapes, pears, and quinces, were of the most approved varieties; and their size and flavor gave evidence of the care and attention of the growers. Samples of wheat and flour were highly creditable to the county. The show of horses and cattle was large, and among them many noble specimens of strength and beauty. The first day was devoted to the show and an address by Wm. T. Frazer, which was most appropriate and instructive. Fifty-two volumes of Transactions paid out as premiums. Officers for 1850.-I. M. Dederer, Blauveltville, President; Isaac Barnes, James Suffern, Jacob J. Eckerson, Vice Presidents; Isaac Sloat, Blauveltville, Corresponding Secretary; Erastus Johnson, Spring Valley, Recording Secretary; John E. Hogenkamp, Treasurer; John W. Felter, John R. Coe, Matthew D. Bogart, A. Thompson Blauvelt, Exec. Committee. I. M. DEDERER, President. |