REPORTS FROM LOCAL SOCIETIES. 9? 



tion ever held in this valley, numbering in its entries 1,010, against 571 in 1874, 

 and 575 in 1875, falling only 218 entries short of the great State fair in 1873, 

 held in the same hall, and being 339 more than the entries at the State fair 

 held at Saginaw in 1874, and I venture to say the quality of the fruit shown 

 has never been excelled, and had the fair been held two weeks earlier, there 

 would have been the finest and largest display of peaches ever exhibited in this 

 section. As it was, the display was fine, but small. I would call the attention 

 of the Society to the importance of holding their fairs at least two weeks earlier. 



Three entries were made that were worthy of favorable mention, for which 

 no premiums were offered, viz. : P. D. Sneathen, of Boston, Ionia Co., a col- 

 lection of apples grown in 1875, embracing Golden Russets, Roxbury Russets, 

 Jonathans, and Baldwins, in good state of preservation ; the Russets having 

 been preserved with care, the others had been overlooked in the bottom of a 

 barrel, and came out fresh and nice. 



The exhibition of dried tomatoes, pumpkin, and sour and sweet apples, by 

 Mrs. J. D. Hustcd, of Lowell, was superior, and never excelled by any process. 



Henry F. Sadler, of Byron, exhibited as fine a plate of Sweet Chestnuts as 

 one desires to see, also a branch of chestnuts, and a bush heavily loaded with 

 Barbary berries, showing that it is only necessary to plant the seed to secure a 

 bountiful supply of those desirable products. 



The interest in the Floral Department was greatly enhanced by the lively 

 competition between Messrs. Sharp, Rowe, Suttlc, and others, and the display 

 of flowers was very fine. 



The disbursements for premiums amounted to $515.75. Adding to this the 

 necessary expenses of the fair, amounting to 840. 7G, the total expenditures 

 were reckoned at $556.51. 



The fair was held in connection with the Kent County Agricultural Society ; 

 and, in conclusion, allow me to say that it is my conviction, on mature deliber- 

 ation, that it is for the best interests of all that this Society should continue to 

 hold Union Fairs with the Kent County Agricultural Society, as their interests 

 are mutual. In union there is strength. The advantages of this policy are 

 numerous. It involves no great risk ; the hall is certain ; the money to pay 

 the premiums is very nearly certain ; the people to look at the exhibition are 

 certain to come. They come to look at the stock, the horses, the manufac- 

 tures, the machines, the poultry, the vegetables, and they also look at the fruit 

 and the flowers. Thus we secure an audience, — we get a hearing, — we reach 

 thousands that otherwise we should not reach or attract. We teach a multi- 

 tude that otherwise would remain in ignorance of the fact that fruit orowins: is 

 a real and important interest in this valley. All of the arrangements made to 

 secure the success of the Agricultural Society are also made for us. We are to 

 no trouble about that. Let us then cultivate pleasant relations with the offi- 

 cers of that Society, to the end that the very best possible results may be 

 obtained. 



The experience of the last year has shown that we cannot control our pre- 

 mium list under the sum of $800 without injuring its usefulness. Money makes 

 a fair; the more premiums the larger the fair. The proper way is to put 

 money into premiums to insure success. 



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