136 MICHIOAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



reflects gi'ent credit on the officers and managers of that Society, and it is to bo hoped 

 thi'ir g« od w( rk will ;^o on. 



Our nunual visit to tlie Agricultural college in June wu'* a very intci'CPting event. It 

 etreiigUieiied my conviction moie lirinly than ever of its impc rtaiice and userulnessiii 

 promoting the interests of agriculture in our Stale. Its well anaiiged a|)p()iiitiiient8 

 Bpeak well for the management of the institution. The s\!-tematic arrangements 

 thioughout tlie college hiiiluiugs and farm, tJie superb jud.i;-ment and taste exhibited in 

 the selection and breeding of stock ami the well tidlivated lii his. is a worthy e.xanijile 

 fur any of the most exalted taste and ami ition. and the young men who have the oi:)por- 

 tunity and benefit of that institiuion are highly favored. 



To the Pivss and Railroads of the istate. and tlie IVhayor and Council of the City of 

 Kahunazoo, for your courtesy and assistance in perfecting and carrj-ing out tlie arrange- 

 ments for the Fan*. I tender you the sincere thanks of the Society 



Before retiring from the Presidency of tliis So -iety, I wish to tender to this commit- 

 tee my gratefnl acknowledgments for your kindness and assihtance in the discharge of 

 my olileial duties, for which please accei>t my most cordial thanks, 

 ■ Gentlemen of the committee, I now have tlie pleasure of presenting to yon and to 

 this chair the IJon. Wm. Chamberlain, your President. 



ProsiJetit Win. Ciiainberluiii then delivered hid inaugural address as follows: 



ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT CHAMBERLAIN. 



Gentlemen of the Executive Committee of tlie State AQricultural Society: 



To you have been intrusted the interests of this Society for the ensuing year, and 

 upon the result of your conclusions at this meeting depend largely its future usefulness 

 and its future success in the State. 



This Society has been fortunate in having for its officers men of practical experience 

 in the various vo ations of life, who were willing to give a shaie of their time without 

 compensation for its success. 



During the Society's history it has been carried through some severe financial dilficul- 

 ties without aid from tbe State, except in the first few years of its existence, and 

 depending ujion the hberality of its patrons, has succeeded in attaining to a po^ilion 

 equaling that of any State organization of the kind in the country ; and is a promment 

 and positive factor in the development of agriculture and its kindred arts throughout 

 the ."-tate. 



Since its organization thirty -seven years ago, the Society has held annual Fairs, pay- 

 ing otit liberal sums of money in premiums each year, stimulating a healthy spirit of 

 competition among exhibitors, giving them every facility possible to make "a ilisplay 

 of tlieir products, and affording visitors a fine opportunity for viewing a great variety 

 of interesting exhibits from other States as well as our own. 



It is generally conceded that this Societ}^ is one of the most liberal to exhibitors of 

 any in the country, and 1 trust it may continue to be so as far as practicable. 



The Fair at Kalamazoo last year, as an industrial exhibition, was a success and all 

 that could be desired on the part of the Society. 



Financially it was not up to our exjjectations, for the expenditures exceeded the 

 receipts. 



Some criticisms have been made respecting certain classes of exhibitions allowed 

 upon the Society's grounds, and the quesiion was asked last year, •'What proi riety 

 was there in allowing the Bull'alo Bill company to make a display on the grounds the 

 first day of the Fair V " 



My answer would be that there is a legitimate place upon the Fair grounds for every- 

 thing instructive, entertaining or amusing tliat is not demoralizing in its tendency. 



This exhibition afforded an opportunity to com])are the wild caitle ami horses of the 

 plains with the improved breeds of the States, and affoi\led amusement for those who 

 desired to witnesj great skill in the use of fire-arms, and tiie ridmg of untamed animals. 



We cannot expect that all visitors at our Fair will be interested in the same class of 

 exhibits; and therefore we should endeavor to give as large a variety of anuisements as 

 is wise and consistent, keeping in view at all times the object for which the Society is 

 organizeil. 



'J lie rules governing in every department of our Fair should be carefully considered 

 at this meeting, and such changes be made as seem proper and necessajl'. 



One of the rules of the Society requires the SupeiiiUendeuts of tbe several depart- 

 ments to be on the grounds Thursday jireceding tlie Fair, to assign space to exhibitors, 

 'lo comj)ly with this rule. Superintendents are often put to consiaeruble inconvemenco 

 in spending so much tmie on the week before the Fair, and the result is that often they 



