10 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



in previous fairs won the blue ribbon should be classified by them- 

 selves and special premiums or medals offered for this class, 

 which should be known as the sweepstakes blue ribbon class, 

 and that the judging of all stock should be made more educative, 

 the work being done in a public and conspicuous place and by 

 intelligent, practical men, who should clearly and distinctly state 

 in every case the reason why an animal wins over its competitors. 

 We were pleased to note that in many instances these suggestions 

 were followed. 



The following figures show the business of these societies : 



Number of horses and colts exhibited 1,592 



Number of neat cattle exhibited 7, 2 99 



Number of sheep exhibited 1 >57 l 



Number of swine exhibited 702 



Number of poultry (coops) exhibited 2,311 



Amount of premiums and gratuities awarded $23,193 25 



Per cent of increase in awards, from 1901 5 



Amount of trotting purses 22,664 56 



Amount of entry fees for trotting purses 7,814 42 



Actual cost of trotting purses 14,850 14 



Per cent of premiums and gratuities to total awards, 51 

 Per cent of stipend to societies not otherwise pro- 

 vided for by law 33 



Number of societies receiving stipend 43 



AGRICULTURAL LAWS. 



All complaints of the violation of the laws in relation to the 

 sale and analysis of concentrated commercial feeding stuffs, or 

 the illegal sale of oleomargarine have been fully and promptly 

 investigated. We find, upon investigation, that the law in rela- 

 tion to feeding stuffs is defective, and the object for which it 

 was designed cannot be accomplished. The attention of the 

 committee on agriculture of the coming legislature will be called 

 to the defects, and we trust they will see to it that such amend- 

 ments are made as will render it effective. 



