22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. H. B. Williams of China. I have been thinking much of 

 one subject while the lecturer presented the matter of horse trots. 

 We all know that on the last day of our shows, a horse trot usual- 

 ly takes place, and that we receive more money on that day, than 

 on all the others. That is a fact, and worthy of our consideration. 

 At the same time have we not carried the horse trotting to an ex- 

 treme ? 



A great many farmers in our section have becime dissatisfied on 

 this account, and kept their stock and the products of their farms 

 away from the exhibitions. I think this matter one well worthy 

 of our consideration at this time, and that we ought to inquire 

 whether it be not possible to devise some methods that shall be 

 satisfactory to the people, by placing restrictions upon these trots. 

 We have in our society some smart business men, who have done 

 a good deal towards organizing it, getting it in running order, 

 keeping up its reputation, and all that. But they are really horse 

 men, and they insist upon great premiums on horses. I think 

 there is no consistency in offering $50.00 for the fastest trotting 

 horse, $25.00 for the second, and $10.00 or $5.00, as the case may 

 be, for the best pair of draft horses, and fifty cents for tlio best 

 rug. To me it seems absurd. 



Mr. Martin. That is a subject I have thought of a great deal. I 

 have had something to do with these societies, and I have found, 

 that if we have the show, we must have the picture, and we must 

 have such pictures as the people want to see. For myself, I care 

 but little about horse trotting upon the grounds, but, Mr. President 

 and gentlemen, old as I am, I admire to sit behind a horse that 

 does not take anybody's dust. Is there a man on this floor who 

 does not ? If there is, I wish he would rise, just to gratify me. 

 Not a solitary man ! I tell you, there is not a man or a woman 

 either, who does not like it. 



Now can we make our fairs go without we have the pictures 

 that are called for? I think not, and any man who has occupied 

 the position of a trustee of an agricultural society must have come 

 to the conclusion that we must have these trots, in order, as my 

 friend, Mr. Thing, says, to bring in the funds. 



I will give my experience in regard to these horsemen, and I 

 will ask the gentlemen present if their experience has been differ- 

 ent from mine. I do not think very much of their way of life, but, 

 gentlemen, I never had, as an officer of the society, a disrespect- 

 ful word from one of those men. All they asked was, " What do 



