10 agri'culture; of mains. 



that the legislature believes in the local agricultural fairs. At 

 its last session it increased the State stipend to agricultural 

 societies from i-} to 2 cents for each inhabitant of the State^ 

 without a dissenting voice. It expects our county and local 

 fairs to take a higher stand along lines of education, and that 

 all cheap vaudeville and vulgar shows shall be discarded ; that 

 money appropriated by the State shall be used for the exclusive- 

 purpose of instruction in the important industry of agriculture. 

 The State insists that all these objectionable features shall be 

 eliminated. We trust the managers of the fairs will keep in 

 mind that this increased appropriation was intended to do some- 

 thing more for agriculture, and that they will realize more fully^ 

 the possibilities of the fair as an educator in these lines. 



It has been the intention of the societies to comply with the- 

 law in relation to gambling and the sale of intoxicating liquors 

 on their grounds. A few complaints have reached the office that 

 the law was not complied with, and an investigation has shown 

 a delinquency in this respect, to the detriment of some of the 

 societies. The officers of the societies should see that both the 

 spirit and the letter of the law are fully complied with. 



The following figures show the business of these societies for 

 the year 1907: 



Number of horses and colts exhibited 1,626- 



Number of neat cattle exhibited 5>535 



Number of sheep exhibited i,229« 



Number of swine exhibited 472- 



Number of poultry (coops) exhibited 2,607 



Amount of premiums and gratuities awarded. . . . $26,802 86- 



Amount of trotting purses $21,181 86 



Per cent of premiums and gratuities to total awards 56- 



Per cent of State stipend 51 



Number of societies receiving stipend 4O' 



PUBLICATIONS. 



The requests for the annual report of the department have- 

 been very numerous, and the supply has been entirely inadequate 

 to meet the demand. We have also had many requests for our- 

 quarterly bulletins. This would indicate that the farmers are- 

 becoming more interested In agricultural publications and! 



