Spirit Of Jefferson

THE AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Rarely, if ever has our town and neighborhood, witnessed a more bustling and exciting week than the one which has just terminated—the first annual meeting of our Valley Agricultural Society. The attendance of persons from almost every section of our State and from Maryland and Pennsylvania, exceeded the expectation of the most sanguine, and augurs well for the future success of the Society, no less than the deep interest the people feel in every enterprise intended to promote Agricultural improvement. On both Wednesday and Thursday, the grounds where the Exhibition was held, were filled to overflowing, and the roads leading to and fro presented one bustling moving mass.

The Society being as yet in its infancy, this its first Exhibition, of course everything was not arranged as additional experience and more general co-operation will enable them to effect hereafter. Yet, we but express the sentiment of everyone who was present, when we say that those under whose persevering energy and enterprise this Exhibition was projected, arranged and carried through, deserve the hearty thanks of the community and every friend of improvement.

The articles on exhibition were most numerous as to numbers, no less than diversified in character. In quality, we are assured that they compared favorably with those at any previous Exhibition ever held in our State and not inferior even to the first exhibitions of some of the Societies that are now the most flourishing and attractive of any in the country. We are emphatically an Agricultural people, with lands inferior to no other section of the State, as to the world, with a community remarkable for their intelligence and all the comforts of wealth, and why should not our Valley compare favorably on an occasion of this kind with any other region of our country?

All we want is the will to determine, and the energy to execute. A beginning at least has been made, and we hope may be prosecuted until the hopes of the most sanguine have been realized.

We had hoped to have given in the present number of our paper, a complete list of the numerous articles on exhibition, and the very liberal award of Premiums which was made. The officers of the Society have been unable, however, from a press of duties, to get the same in readiness for publication, and owing to the intervention of the Baltimore Fair, where most of them will be in attendance, will be unable to do so for a week or two. Hence, we can only say, that in Horses, Cattle, Sheep and Hogs, the products of the field and the dairy, the fruits of the orchard and the floral gems of the garden, the mechanic genius and invention of our own and the neighboring counties and States, the products of the Loom and the Anvil, no less than the taste, skill and handiwork of the Ladies, all, all, were most creditably represented, and pronounced for themselves that measure of commendation which was so justly due and most cheerfully awarded by the thousands in attendance. We should be glad to mention the names of some of our farmers and mechanics who are especially deserving praise for the great interest manifested, and the creditable display made, but as it might be considered invidious, where so many discharged their duty so well, we shall forbear. This first Exhibition has demonstrated the utility and advantages of the Society to men of all pursuits and professions, and infused a degree of zeal in its future prosperity which must lead to the most useful results. Hundreds who were lukewarm or indifferent, will hereafter be its most useful and efficient members, and the Exhibition of the next year will evidence a marked improvement over the present. It will then be an Agricultural and Mechanical Show, in the fullest sense of the word, and we hope there is no farmer or mechanic of our county, who will not be able to present at least one article creditable to himself and of attraction to his neighbors. United effort can remove mountains, and who is there so selfish in his nature, and so entirely encased in his own shell, that he will not contribute even his mite, for an object so worthy, and an organization so immediately designed for the public good?