48 EOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



winter and became corky if kept late. The mangold was best if 

 fed out after midwinter and if given early would cause scouring. 

 His object in presenting the topic was simply to get at the facts of 

 experience and invite attention to the importance of extended root 

 culture. 



The report was adopted. 



Mr. Rice, from the committee on seventh Topic, presented the 

 following report : 



Ought the Board of Agriculture to be empowered by law to fix 

 the time of holding the shows of agricultural societies ? 



In discussing the question under consideration, your committee 

 perceive two objects, the attainment of which is aimed at in institut- 

 ing the above inquiry. 



1st. The making our county societies more effectually auxiliary 

 to the state society by having all the exhibitions of the former pre- 

 cede that of the latter, — that choice specimens exhibited at the 

 county shows might be selected for exhibition at tbe fair of the state 

 society. 



2d. It is desirable that an arrangement be made by which no 

 two contiijuous societies should hold their fairs at the same time, 

 thereby exciting a negative influence on each other and to a greater 

 or less extent neutralizing the beneficial results of both. 



In considering the first of these propositions your committee feel 

 that however desirable in itself, the accomplishment of the object is 

 attended with paramount difiiculties ; 



For instance, if the county societies are required to hold their 

 fairs at a much earlier day than heretofore, farmers will not have 

 gathered in their crops, and of course will be unprepared to exhibit. 

 On the contrary, if the state society be required to defer its exhibi- 

 tion to a later period, there is reason to apprehend unfavorable 

 weather and a bad state of roads ; thereby reducing the attendance 

 and proportionately diminishing the inflaence and benefits of the 

 exhibition. 



Your committee would therefore suggest that this Board, instead 

 of asking to be vested with additional power in this matter, simply 

 recommend to the several societies throughout the state, that they 

 strive to promote the interest of the state fair, both by their personal 

 attendance, and by forwarding specimens of their productions for 



