Ri;PORT 01^ THE COMMISSIONER. 9 



Among the speakers who have assisted us at these institutes 

 are Dr. Henry D. Holton, Brattleboro, Vt., Mr. E. D. Howe, 

 Marlboro, Mass., Mr. Andrew Elliott, Gait, Ontario, Prof. F. 

 W. Card, Sylvania, Pa., Prof. C. L. Beach, Burlington, Vt., and 

 Mr. Philip H. Smith, Amherst, Mass. With these men have 

 been associated some of the specialists and successful farmers 

 of our State. The topics discussed have covered a wide range 

 of agricultural work. The discussions following the addresses 

 have shown that the interest is well maintained, and that the 

 people are anxious for information on the subjects treated. 



We have received during the past year constantly increasing 

 requests from granges for the Department of Agriculture to 

 furnish a speaker to discuss agricultural topics at some of their 

 meetings. When practicable we have complied with these 

 requests, to a limited extent, believing that this is a valuable 

 method of carrying instruction to the farmers of the State. 



AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



The agricultural exhibitions held by the different societies 

 throughout the State met with a fair degree of success. For 

 the most part the weather was favorable, the attendance large 

 and the interest manifested in the exhibition of stock and agri- 

 cultural products was good. The stock exhibited was of a 

 higher order than usual, more thoroughbred and registered cattle 

 and horses being shown. Although it is said that the ox has 

 practically left the State, there was the best exhibit of teams 

 of oxen at the State Fairs this year that we have seen for many 

 years. 



While in some of the exhibitions the original purpose of a fair 

 to educate the people in agriculture, seems to be somewhat 

 obscured, it is our opinion that in a goodly number of these fairs 

 the managers have the agricultural interests of the community 

 at heart, and are endeavoring to add some new educational 

 feature each year. The fair with a large agricultural exhibition, 

 in which the educational features are prominent, good manage- 

 ment, and a clean program will be the most successful, both 

 financially and educationally. Maine leads the New England 

 States in the number of fairs held, and she must maintain a high 

 standard in the character of these exhibitions. It is very evident 



