12 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



the products of the soil, without being importuned to purchase, they are 

 better qualified to select that which is adapted to their wants. Take the 

 entries in the live stock department, and note the increase of foreign 

 exhibitors. They come from the Eastern and Middle States to exhibit their 

 stock at the State Fair of California, for the very reason they are sure 

 to have their stock seen by the breeders of our State, and during the ten 

 days they are located here, the stock raiser and farmer, who wishes to 

 improve the breed of his stock, is enabled to fully examine into the quali- 

 ties of the various breeds, and select the one best adapted to the section of 

 the country wherein he resides. A prominent breeder aptly remarked to 

 a member of this Board that the State Fair was the best place in the State 

 to advertise your stock, and find out its worth. 



It is the same in each department of our exhibition. The inducements 

 offered by the society bring the articles for exhibition, and that fact known 

 to the consumer insures us of his presence also; hence we say that institu- 

 tions of this character are of inestimable value to the people of the State, 

 and it is a satisfaction to know that California is possessed of the right 

 spirit in maintaining such institutions that tend to increase her already 

 prosperous condition. 



Governor Stoneman in his last message truthfully says: "A State that can 

 show a production annually of twenty million to forty million bushels of 

 wheat, fifteen to eighteen million gallons of wine, thousands of tons of fruit, 

 eight to ten million pounds of wool, five hundred thousand boxes of raisins, 

 and whose citrus fruits are the admiration of all, must be prosperous." 



And, we would say, that institutions such as this, are necessary to bring 

 to notice these varied products of the State, and we know that much has 

 been accomplished in that respect by the annual exhibitions of this 

 society. 



The increased interest taken in our exhibitions is quite noticeable, as 

 will be seen by reference to the receipts and disbursements in 1880, and 

 those of 1886. In the former year they were in aggregate $40,472 59. In 

 1886 they amount to $72,460 48, and the reports show this to be a gradual 

 increase each year since 1880. 



In the first department — Live Stock — the total amount of premiums 

 awarded in 1880, were $4,139 50; in 1886 they were $6,089 75. In 1880 

 the total amount of awards made in all of the other departments combined 

 were $2,362 in cash, and $702 in silverware. In 1886 they were $5,835 50 

 cash, and $922 58 in silverware, exclusive of $472 75, awarded in special 

 premiums for specific purposes, making the total amount of premiums paid 

 in 1886, $13,370 58, as against $7,203 50 in 1880-, showing an increase of 

 $6,167 08 in six years. 



Our list of premiums is now divided into nine departments, viz.: 



First Department — Live Stock. 



Second Department — Agricultural Machinery and Implements. 



Third Department — Textile Fabrics. 



Fourth Department — Mechanical Products. 



Fifth Department — Agricultural Products. 



Sixth Department — Fruits. 



Seventh Department — Fine Arts. 



Eighth Department — County Exhibits. 



Ninth Department — Miscellaneous. 



This last named department embraces all exhibits not entered, and for 

 which no premiums are offered in any of the departments preceding it. 

 So it will be seen that we have provided for all classes of industries com- 

 mon to the State. 



