410 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTUKE. 



tions being first prcmiiini and second premium in each case) would amount to SCO. 

 It niaj' be an error in copyin<? lists for us, and if tlie special discretionary premiums 

 only in fact amount to 811, as stated by the yuperinteudcnt of this department in 

 his report, we would coincide in his recommendation tiiat tlie amounts be paid; but 

 as sliown in copj' of recommendations presented to us, we must recommend that the 

 entire class be passed without any discretionary awards. 



Your committee would remark, that tlie commendable efforts of viewing commit- 

 tees and superintendents to secure notice of all articles exhibited deserves especial 

 notice; and if in their earnest desire that no meritorious exhibit should be over- 

 looked, they have recommended premiums in such number ami amount that the funds 

 of the Society and justice to successful competitors for regularly oflered premiums 

 require careful scrutiny and judicious curtailment at our hands, tiieir thoroughness, 

 zeal, and earnest desire to give universal satisfaction deserve commendation. Your 

 committee feel impelled, however, to urge upon Superintendents in charge a careful 

 examination of the books of viewing committees after their work of examination is 

 completed, and before cards or ribbons are given out, that expectation may not be 

 raised of receiving premiums, which must inevitably be disappointed, in some 

 ■whole classes, and even divisions, this does not appear to have been done at our last 

 exhibition, and every article exhibited, or nearly so, that an omission is the excep- 

 tion and not the rule, has been recommended for special or discretionary premiums, 

 to an amount in many cases larger than the market value of the exliibit. 



This must, necessarilj% lead to a good deal of disappointment, and in many cases, 

 no doubt, to an impression that exhibitors have not been treated with proper consid- 

 eration and respect. Respectfully submitted, 



W. J. BAXTER, 

 J. M. STERLING, 

 HENRY FRALICK, 

 Committee. 



APPENDIX A. 

 REPORT OF VISIT TO STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, JUNE 25, 1879. 



During the winter meeting of the Executive Committee of the State Agri- 

 cultural Society an invitation was received by the State Board of Agriculture 

 to visit the college during the month of June. The titne chosen was the 25th 

 of that month, and on that day quite a number of visitors assembled. On the 

 part of the State society there were present tlie President, W. L. Webber ; li. 

 F. Johnstone, Secretary; J. M. Sterling, Monroe; Henry Fralick, Grand Rap- 

 ids; A. 0. Hyde, Marshall; F. M. Manning, Albion; H. 0. Hanford, Ply- 

 mouth; A. F. Wood, Mason: J. Q. A. Burrington, Vassar; F.D.Dewey, 

 Owosso ; W. H.Cobb, Kalamazoo; Phiio Parsons, Detroit; Wm. Ball, Ham- 

 burg ; and W. G. Beckwith, Cassopolis. The members of the Board of Agri- 

 culture who received them were: Hon. J. Webster Childs, Geo. W. Phillips, 

 Mr. Pteynolds of Grand Traverse, M. G. Gard of Volinia, and Mr. Wells of 

 Constantine. The president of the college, Mr. Abbot, received the party in 

 the parlors of the college hall. 



The officers of the State Grange were also invited guests at the same time, 

 and were also received. Among them were the Hon. John J. Woodman, the 

 Master of the State Grange, S. T. Cobb, Secretary, and the Hon. Mr. Luce of 

 Cold water. 



After some conversation, it being about II A. M., the guests were invited in 

 a body to visit the laboratory, where Dr. Kedzie was employed with his classes. 

 The midsummer sun made it excessively hot, and as a large number of the mem- 



