No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 17 



superior both in number and quality. The management, in most 

 eases, refused to grant the customary "side-show" privileges that 

 formerlj' aroused the just criticism of the public and the better 

 class of people generally. 



A ban is upon all classes of gambling or betting and the moral 

 atmosphere of count}- fairs generally is greatl}^ improved. Persons 

 who predicted a large falling otf in attendance, if the objectionable 

 features were prohibited, were proved to be in error, since the com- 

 plete reports received show that the season of 1907, was as already 

 stated, one of the most successful in point of attendance that our 

 people have ever enjoyed. 



To the good people of the State, it is a matter of self congratu- 

 lation that a better era for countj^ fairs has dawned. As a source 

 of education, the county and State fair should receive the loyal 

 support of farmers, always and everywhere, but as a place for im- 

 moral exhibits and petty gambling, they are not w'orthy of their 

 support. 



The General Assembly of 1907 passed an act authorizing County 

 Commissioners, for the pur^jose of encouraging agriculture, to pay 

 annually |1,0U0 to any incorporated Agricultural Association within 

 their respective counties, that pays premiums on agricultural ex- 

 hibits. The act ];rovides. that this amount shall be paid to the so- 

 cieties holding such exhibition, for a period of not less than four 

 days, in the interest of stock raising, handiwork and farm produc- 

 tion, generally. The money thus provided cannot be devoted to the 

 payment of premiums for exhibitions of speed or any manner of 

 horse racing. The act also prohibits gambling devices or gambling 

 in any form, upon the premises of the Association claiming such 

 money, and also provides that the Association claiming such money 

 shall pay in premiums a sum equal to the said ^1,000, and when two 

 Associations in the same county claim and receive five hundred dol- 

 lars each, they shall each pay a like sum in premiums, and that all 

 premiums shall be paid only upon the products of the county wherein 

 such exhibition is held. Under the liberal provisions of this act, 

 some of the smaller and less prosperous agricultural societies of 

 the State have been stimulated to greater efforts, and are in position 

 to do much for the agricultural interests of their counties. 



It cannot be regarded otherwise than as a great jnisfortune that 

 the bill that was before the Legislature of 1907, providing for the 

 establishment of a State Fair, did not become a law. It is confident- 

 ly hoped that the matter will be again taken up by the next Legis- 

 lature and that success may crow^n the efforts of the progressive 

 farmers who were so earnest in their pleas for such legislation a 

 year ago. 



FOUL, SEEDS. 



Many inquiries come to this Department concerning methods for 

 the destruction of weeds, and many specimens of weeds are sent to 

 us for identification, which proves that every one whose duties re- 

 quire much travel knows to be the case, that foul weeds are be- 

 coming quite prevalent in our State. This condition is the result 

 of sowing seeds that are impure, particularly, clover and grass 

 seeds. It is doubtful whether up to a period of ten or fifteen years 



2—6—1907. 



