54S Third Annual Report of the 



tributed in premiums by the New York state agricultural society; 

 twenty thousand dollars thereof shall be distributed by the com- 

 missioner of agriculture among the county agricultural societies 

 of this state and to the American institute of the city of New 

 York, as follows: One-half thereof shall be apportioned and dis- 

 tributed equally, and the remainder in proportion to actual 

 premiums paid during the previous year by such societies and 

 institute, exclusive of premiums paid for racing, twenty-four 

 thousand dollars, which shall be paid as follows: The sum of two 

 thousand dollars to any society, club or exposition which shall 

 have held annually fairs during each of the three years next 

 preceding such distribution, and which shall have paid at each of 

 its annual meetings or fairs during such three years three thou- 

 sand dollars as premiums for agricultural interests, exclusive of 

 the premiums paid for racing, and shall on or before the first 

 day of December in such year file a statement in duplicate, veri- 

 fied by its president and treasurer, showing such payment, to- 

 gether with the amount of each premium and the name of the 

 person to whom it was paid, one of which statements shall be 

 filed in the office of the commissioner of agriculture, and the 

 other in the office of the comptroller, and shall file a written offer 

 and bond to be approved by the comptroller, to the effect that 

 such society, club or exposition will act as an agent of the state 

 for the distribution and payment of such money for premiums 

 at its annual fair; but if such society, club or exposition shall 

 receive two thousand dollars as herein provided, it shall not re- 

 ceive any portion of the moneys collected from racing associa- 

 tions or moneys already appropriated for the benefit of county 

 agricultural societies; the balance of said twenty-four thousand 

 dollars not distributed as herein provided to be distributed 

 among the county agricultural societies of the state as follows: 

 One-half of said balance to be apportioned and distributed equally 

 and the remainder in proportion to the actual premiums paid 

 during the previous year by such societies, exclusive of pre- 

 miums paid for racing. 



