4C8 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Tlie meeting also adopted the following resolution : 



Itesohed, Tliat this society excliulc from its grounds tliiring tlie fair all parties 

 opcratiiifi^ witli fjanies of chance, such as '* wheels of fortune," "Modocks," " air guns," 

 games with rings, etc. 



The first meeting of the board of managers will be held at the court-house 

 in Mason, on Thursday, the 19th day of February next, at 10 o'clock. 



J NO. C. SQUIERS, Secretary. 



KALAMAZOO COUNTY. 



There was a large attendance of prominent farmers of the county at the 

 couit-house on Saturday, Jan. 10, in attendance at the annual meeting of the 

 Agricultural Societ}'. 



President Cobb called the meeting to order at 1 : 30 P. M., and announced 

 that the first business would be the report of tlie Secretary. 



Mr. Frank Little, Secretary of the Society, then submitted the following 

 report : 



Mr. President and gentlemen,— Tlie year 1879, just closed, has been eminently a 

 successful one in all branches of business in our State. Especially is this true in the 

 field of agriculture, a branch of popular industry our society is expressly organized 

 to promote. 



The wiieat crop of Michigan for 1879 stands unparalleled, both in the superior 

 quality of the grain, but particularly in reference to the unprecedented yield above 

 an average crop. 



Good and careful observers estimate the average yield in this county the past year 

 to have been fully 25 bushels per acre, an increase of at least six bushels per acre over 

 any former year. While climatic influences during the growing season of any crop 

 largely control results, yet it is also a gratifying fact to note that our farmers are 

 pajing more attention to the whole subject of systematic and improved methods of 

 grain raising and other braches of farm industry. New varieties of seed and more 

 thorough tillage have largely contributed to the success above noted. 



The corn crop of the county for the past year is below the average in yield, the 

 result clearly of a pinching drought that prevailed at earing time. No epidemic, to 

 any extent, has prevailed among farm animals, and prices generally have been remune- 

 rative, and well sustained. In connection with the general progress so clearly dis- 

 cernable, special mention should be made of the great improvements that have been 

 made witliin the past few years in all classes of implements and machinery used in 

 the various operations of the farm. These have tended largely to elevate the profes- 

 sion, so called; to make farm life more attractive. Our farmers are relieved immensely 

 from tiie overtasking drudgery of hand labor; the young men are less inclined tc> 

 desert the farm for more congenial or less laborious pursuits, and the functions and 

 capacities, the powers and forces requisite in carrying on the yearly work of the farm 

 have been increased enormousl}^ by these inventions and labor-saving appliances. 



We are pleased to chronicle another year's successful work of our agricultural soci- 

 ety. That it is growing in importance and usefulness is undeniable, and is attested 

 to by all candid observers. Our annual fairs are fast becoming model exhibitions, 

 and are made the subject of high commendation on the part of visiting strangers, and 

 intelligent, disinterested spectators. I may be pardoned in sajing in behalf of the 

 management, that the officers of the society, unitedly as one man, have labored zeal- 

 ously to further its interests in every laudable direction ; and we are pleased to know 

 that the people of the county appreciate what is being done for them by thesegen- 

 tlemen who stand at the head of the various departments of the fair, and that tlieir 

 voluntary, uin-emunerated efforts in the direction indicated, are so well sustained and 

 seconded by the farmers, business men, mechanics, and citizens of the county. 



The business transactions of the society for the year 1879 are here summarized as 

 follows: 



