470 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



SUB-STATEMENT. 



Treasury debtor, January 10, 1880. 



Cash on Imiul $05 87 



Pierce note and morffjate due April G, 1S80.. 1.350 00 



Interest due on above April G, ISSO 108 00 



Total assets $1 ,523 87 



Of the acre crops entered at the fair, only one statement has been filed in accord- 

 ance with the rides of the society which is herewith submitted: 



STATEMENT OF AN AGUE OF COKN KAISED UY W. P. HOPE. 



The soil is sandy loam. The state of the soil was June grass sod. 



Cost of plowin<:f to same ^1 00 



Jlanowinf^ the same 50 



Marking the same 15 



Planting 35 



Manure used, g3-psum, one peck to the acre, applied on the hill 5 



Applying the gypsum 25 



Cost of working the corn 1 00 



The above acre was gone twice through, twice in each row. Husking was done 

 Xovember 10, 1879. 



Cost of husking the above at 2i^ cents per busliel 2 35 



Total cost of raising one acre of corn $5 G5 



The product of the above acre was one hundred and four bushels of ears (104), equiv- 

 alent to sixty-nine and one-third bushels of shelled corn. 



I believe 1 have made the above statement according to the requirements of the 

 society. 



WM. P. HOPE. 

 I know the above statement to be correct. 



JOHN LEWIS. 



I would recommend that the first prize for best acre of corn be awarded to Mr. 

 Hope. 



Through an error in the report of the viewing committee in class No. S, sweep- 

 stake purse foi' best stallion for general use, 5 years old and over, the first prize, 

 which was awarded to Mr. John P. CJampbell, was marked opposite the entry of Mr. 

 John A. Kendall. Such mistakes on the part of committees, of no uncommon occur- 

 rence, are deeply to be regretted; not only for the injustice done exhibitors, but the 

 difticulties that are encountered in attempting to adjust the same satisfactorily after 

 the close of the fair, and the committee have dispersed. Executive superintendents 

 should review the work of their respective committees in this respect with great 

 care, before the books are returned to the office. 



We experience more or less difticulty each year in securing the full and prompt 

 attendance of efficient viewing committees. The selections are made in the early 

 spring, of representative men and women of the county, chosen with special reference 

 to their supposed fitness and willingness to serve in the various positions assigned. 

 Now, if your very capable and esteemed president, treasurer, and the various execu- 

 tive superintendents can devote three or four weeks of their time each year gratu- 

 itously, in behalf of the agricultural society and its management, it would seem that 

 the class of gentlemen and ladies whose names appear in the annual premium list 

 ought to esteem it an honor, yea more, a high privilege and duty, to serve the society 

 o?ie c?a?/ without expectation of, or the acceptance of any I'eward for such service, 

 either direct or indirect. 



With the exception of editors, reporters, officers of kindred societies, and invited 

 guests from abroad, personally 1 have long favored the abolishment of the free list at 

 our county fairs. The admission fee is small, onlj' 25 cents, and I believe that there 

 should be in an organization of this kind, working solely to advance the public inter- 

 ests of the locality, no privileged class; but, on the contrary, aZ^ should be placed 

 upon a perfect equalitj^ before tlie gates. 



Special mention should be made of the superior exhibition of cattle, thoroughbred 

 and grades, at our late fair. We believe the animals on exhibition have been scarcely 

 excelled at any fair in the State. 



Kalamazoo county is rapidly coming to the front in respect to improving the breed 



