294 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Geo. AV. Phillips tendered his resignation as a member of the Executive 

 Committee, lie havinir been elected President of tlie Society. 



On motion of Mr. Baxter, the resignation of Mr. IMiillips was accepted, and, 

 on motion of Mr. Wood, I. II. J3utterlield, of Port Huron, was elected to fill 

 the vacancy. 



President AVebber then read his address as follows: 



ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT WM. L. WEBBER. 



Gentlemen op the Executive Committee.— Retiring at this time from the du- 

 ties of President of this Society, I desire to submit such remarks and recommenda- 

 tions as 1 believe will be for the benefit of the Societj'. 



1 congratulate you that, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather during our last 

 State Fair, the interest felt in its objects was such as to produce an income in excess 

 of the expenditure. The report of the Treasurer will give you exact figures. The 

 amount in the iiands of the Treasurer now is some two or three thousand dollars in 

 excess of the amount in his hands a year ago. The balance in his hands January 14, 

 3S79, was §19,027.91. This is a greater sum than is necessary for the Society to have 

 on hand. 1 recommend that you authorize and instruct the Treasurer to put at 

 least §15,000 of the amount on hand at interest by investment in registered govern- 

 ment bonds. 



At the last session of the Legislature an act was passed, as requested by this Soci- 

 ety, autliorizing it to hold property to an amount not exceeding one hundred thou- 

 sand dollars; also providing that the Society should not be liable for loss by fire or 

 otherwise of animals or articles on exhibition at its fairs. The act also provides 

 that the Secretary and Treasurer of the Society shall each give bonds in such amount 

 and with such sureties respectively as shall from time to time be required by the 

 Executive Committee, conditioned for the faithful performance of their duties; and 

 to account for and pay over, as the Executive Comm'ittee shall order, all such moneys 

 as shall come into the hands of such officers respectively by virtue of their office. It 

 will be necessary for you at this meeting to fix the amount for such bonds, and in case 

 the same shall be presented at your present session, to decide upon the responsibility 

 of the sureties. The act further provides that in case either of said officers shall neg- 

 lect or refuse to give such bonds within such time and with such sureties as should be 

 approved, it should be competent for the Executive Committee to declare the office 

 vacant and fill it by appointment until the next election. This gives you full power 

 in regard to this subject. 



At your last winter's meeting you directed the employment of clerks for superin- 

 tendents, and authorized blanks upon which the premiums awarded should be re- 

 ported. Owing to some misunderstanding by the clerks of their duties these blanks 

 were not properly filled out during the Fair, and as a result, several weeks elapsed 

 after the Fair before it was authoritively settled what awards had been made. The 

 clerical force was sufficient, had their duties been properly apprehended, to have had 

 those lists complete before the Fair week ended. Prompt payment of premiums I 

 think due to exhibitors, and I recommend that the system be continued, and that 

 especial pains be taken to see that it be made effectual at the next Fair. 



By far the greater portion of our halls is used by exhibitors who bring their goods 

 merely for advertising purposes. The cost to the Society for furnishing this space 

 is greater than the amount of ordinary premiums, and I advise that hereafter no 

 premiums be offered for such goods and articles as are usually exhibited for adver- 

 tising. If we provide the opportunity, the exhibit will be as large without as with 

 premiums. 



Heretofore there has been a discrimination in premiums offered for the different 

 breeds of cattle: larger premiums being ofiered for Short-horns than any others. 

 I recommend that the practice of the Society in that respect be changed, and that 

 all deemed worthy of encouragement be put upon an equality. It has been said that 

 because the larger proportion of the cattle of improved breeds in the State were 

 Short-horns, therefore it was just that a larger proportion of the premiums should 

 be awaded them. I do not think this argument sound. The greatest agricultural 

 production of the State in value is wheat, and 5-et it has not been deemed necessary 

 for that reason to offer the largest premium for its encouragement. The value of 

 Short-horns is well understood throughout the State. We have breeders who claim 

 that the Hereford is a more valuable animal for the Michigan farmer. They are 

 dissatified with the preference given to Short-horns, and 1 think justly so. If all 



