STATE AGPJCULTURAL SOCIETY. 333 



of articles on exhibition in this Department tliat added very much to the Show, 

 wiiic'h it is impossible to enumerate. 



Your Superintendent is of the opinion that the exhibitors were well satisfied 

 with tlie space allotted them, also with the premiums awarded. 

 All of which is respectlullv submitted. 



W. H. COBB, 

 Superintendent. 



VEHICLES. 



The report on the Department of Vehicles was presented by Mr. Ball. 



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



In makino- tlie required report in Division T, I would say that all, or nearly all of 

 the articles sliown were of style, finish and quality quite superior, while some were 

 very excellent indeed. 



The whole number of premimns awarded were 50. First premiums, 19; 2d premi- 

 ums, 15; discretionary premiums, 16. Whole number of entries, 7G; though many 

 entries lepresented two or more vehicles, making the number of articles shown 

 much larger than the entries. The accommodations were quite ample, I think, for 

 all exhibitors, unless it might be those who wished to make them a means of accom- 

 modation for selling their wares. I think that the committee who had the awards 

 to make did their dutj' faithlully and well, although they complained of too much 

 bulldozing on the pai't of some exhibitors. 



All of which is repectfully submitted. 



WILLIAM BALL, 



Superinte7idtnt. 



FINE ARTS. 



The report on the Department of Fine Arts was presented by Mr. Parsons. 

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



Your Superintendent of Fine Arts would respectfully report that there was mani- 

 fested during the Fair of 1879, an unusual interest in all that related to this depart- 

 ment, the additional space granted being entirely utilized by exhibitors. The 

 paintings shown gave conclusive evidence of a growing interest and Improvement 

 in this, the most important feature of the Fine Art Department. There seems 

 growing up in our city and State a more cultivated taste and thorough appreciation 

 of Art for itself and for its influence over others. This encourages our artists to 

 more earnest efforts and higher aims. There is a difference of opinion among our 

 artists as to the wisdom or desirability of an award of premiums. At all events, 

 there is a general sentiment among them that if premiums are oflered they should, 

 to some extent, be commensurate with the interest sought to be encouraged. For 

 instance, for illustration, you offer as first premium on an American Merino Ram, 

 ineligible to registry, §15; for a second premium, $10; for a third, $5; fourth $3; 

 •while for a picture worth $15,000, the first premium is $2; the second, $1. In case of 

 fire or i)anic, the property first mentioned can be drawn from the ground without 

 risk, while in the other case a fire risk of $16,000 on two pictures was required to se- 

 cure an exhibit. Had Stanley been living, he would hardly feel flattered with the 

 premium on his great picture of the Trial of Red Jacket, so full of expression and 

 rich in coloring, attracting universal attention. The great point should be to bring 

 out the best eflort of our artists. To do this there should be a more discriminating 

 increase in premiums in certain classes or an abolition of all premiums. This fea- 

 ture of our Exhibition is one of the most attractive and should be wisely fostered 

 and encouraged. The show of stationers'^ and book-binding, books and printing, 

 were of the first order, and reflected great credit on those making the exhibit. The 

 exhibition of articles of ladies' dress, plain needle and machine work, embroidery 

 and ornamental needle work, crotchet, knit and fancy work, hair and shell work, were 

 the best ever shown, in the opinion of capable judges. 



Respectfully submitted, 



r. PARSONS, 

 Superintendent. 



FORAGE. 



The report on Forage was presented by Mr. Rising. 

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

 The Superintendent of Forage begs leave to make the following report and sug- 



