338 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



desired information on claiming: liis i)remium, the premium is forfeited to the Socie- 

 ty, and tlic person wiio (ithcrwisc wonld iiavc Ix'cn awaiiliM] tii'' ^ainc is deprived 

 thereof. To properly and efl'eclnall}' nicer Mie dillicully tlierefore, sncii parties must 

 not he permitted to compete for premiums. It is tlie producer, and not tlie pur- 

 cliaser, that is entitled to the encouragement and honor whicli a premium is supposed 

 to give. 



1 wonld also call attention to the fact that the premiums oflercd by the Board of 

 Trade were tlirown open to all, and not restricted or limited to tlie grower of the 

 grain exhibited. This enabled commission merchants from diflerent parts of the 

 State to select from grain purchased bj' them, and enter such selected grain in com- 

 petition for premiums. The Detroit Board of Trade offered the premiums and did 

 not even restrict its own members from competing. This their members did not, 

 and of course would not do. Yet they had a right to. It seemed to me tliat one of 

 the chief objects in view in offering the premiums was to encourage the growtli of 

 grain of superior quality, and to permit commission merchants and dealers to com- 

 IKjte lias but siiglit tendency in the direction sought. It would seem to be but neces- 

 sary to call attention to these matters to insure a prompt correction thereof. You 

 may deem it necessaiT to amend Article 7, or place such an official construction 

 tliereon as will remove any existing doubt upon these questions. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



ISAAC MARSTON, 

 Sxiperintendent pro tern. Agricultural Hall, 



Bay City, December, 1S79. 



The following is Mr. "Walters' report, referred to by Mr. Marston : 



This collection of potatoes was raised on one-quarter of an acre. Soil, black sandy 

 loam; had beeiv cultivated forty-five j'ears; were planted in hills 33^ feet apart each 

 way. Fertilizer used: 10 bushels coal ashes, 50 lbs. salt, 50 lbs. plaster, 4 loads stable 

 manure. All planted and cultivated alike, and each variety carefully weighed when 

 dry. All planted May 7. 



Yield Date of 



per Acre. Ripening. 



Alpha G6% 



Brownell's Superior 183)^ Sept. 10 



Briss Triumph 66^^ Aug. 16 



Buchan's Favorite (new) 600 Sept. 10 



Browneirs Beauty 233);^ Aug. 27 



Buckeye 83i<^ 20 



Bingham's Seedling 133}^ Sept. 1 



Blush 116 Aug. 16 



BeautvHebroy 350 23 



Burbank Seedl ing 333%" Sept. 10 



Cottage Seedling 223 Aug. 27 



Com p ton's Surprise 200 Sept. 23 



Connecticu t Blue IGGJ^ 10 



Carpenter's Seedling 400 Aug. 23 



Ck)wHoru 200 27 



DeWitt Prolific 166% 27 



Damar's Seedling 300 Sept. 10 



Davidson's Seedling 166 Aug. 16 



Early Mexican 133 27 



Eureka 283% 18 



Early Vermont 2333^ 8 



Early Paragon 50 16 



Early Ohio 100 16 



Early Rose 2333-^ 16 



English Fluke 66^ 27 



Early Shaw 116 23 



Early Peach 66 23 



Early Mountain 116 27 



Oenesee Count v 166i^ 23 



Garrison's Seedling lt;6^^ 27 



•Garrison's Russet 166>;^ Sept. 2 



Humboldt 33>| Aug. 9 



Hemlock 66 Sept. 2 



HardHead 133i<^ Aug. 23 



