33G STATK ROARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



llErOUTS OF EXECUTIVE SUPEIUNTENDENTS. 



Tlie report on cattle was prcsciiteil by Mr. I'liillips: 



To the President and Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society : 



The last fair, so far as the exhibition of cattle, was very fine; rather better than 

 Micliii^an has ever done before, as it was entirely Michigan Steele. Tliis rule lias 

 called out considerable criticism from tlic State i)ress, and as almost all of tliem make 

 the most talk about Canada being shut out, 1 would simply sa\', Canada did not show 

 Ijecause if they ship tlieir stock here tlie law of Canada prevents all stock from this 

 side coming into their borders, so when once over here could not go home again. 

 Therefore they had to stay awa.y. I recommended this i^lan for reasons set forth in 

 my report one year ago, and b}'' the request of a number of our best breeders. I 

 think tlie judging of cattle at our last fair, when it was confmed to the scale of points, 

 was the best I have ever seen done. Wliencver the judges deviated from this rule 

 their awards seemed to be like a boat without a rudder. 1 would therefore recom- 

 mend that all classes of blooded cattle be judged by a carefully prepared scale of 

 points to suit the breed. 1 herewith submit a scale for Jerseys, presented to the 

 Society hy Marcus W. Bates, breeder of Jerseys, Grand Rapids, Mich., and recom- 

 mend its adoption by the Society for the coming fair. The show of Sliort-horns was 

 excellent; Devons, but few entries, of excellent quality: llerefords, better than for 

 several years; Ayrshires, just about an average with the last tliree years; Galloways, 

 no improvement over former fairs; Jerseys, greatly on the increase in number and 

 better quality than at any previous fair; Ilolsteins, largel)'' on the increase. I feel 

 it my dutj' as a cattle man to say to my brother breeders to invest carefully in this 

 new breed, as I do not think them equal to the Devons, llerefords or Short-horns for 

 Michigan. Perhaps this is saying what a superintendent ought not to say; if so I 

 hope to t)e censured for it. In grade cattle the exhibition was grand, principally 

 from Short-horn bulls and common cows. Working oxen and steers fully as good as 

 last year. In fat cattle, I would recommend a departure from any rule we have been 

 working, to simply fattening animals and carrying them along to get prizes on 

 year after year. 1 think a better plan would be not to give a prize to an animal 

 that had been fed more than one year. I also recommend that premiums be offered 

 for animals one, two and three years old. This is the age that the markets demand 

 and shows all the improvements. It also gives the breeder and feeder quick and 

 profitable returns. 



G. W. PHILLIPS, 

 Superintendent. 



HORSES. 



The report on Horses was presented by Mr. Hyde. 



To the President and Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society : 



There were entered upon the Secretary's books 5S2 horses for exhibition at the 

 last State Fair, as follows: 



Class. 



12— Tiioroughbreds 20 



13 — Horses of all work, Stallions, all ages - 42 



Mares, all ages 27 



Geldings, all ages 19 



Matched Horses, all ages .. 6 



Mules 1 



95 



14 — Roadsters, Stallions, all ages - 64 



Geldings, all ages 29 



Mares and Fillies - 85 



17S 



15 — Driving Horses, 6 pairs - 12 



Single Horses - 41 



53 



16— Draught Stock, Stallions, all ages 34 



Mares, all ages 20 



54 



