MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



515 



HORSE DEPAKTMENT. 



In my opinion, the Horse Department needs little comment for the reason that 

 it seems to be in first class shape, and, excepting for an unfortunate combination 

 of circumstances would have been better than last year. The Crouch Farm of 

 Lafayette, Indiana, (who are a whole show in themselves) would have been here 

 with nineteen cars of horses, except for an unforeseen shipping difficulty, and Finch 

 Brothers, another last years' exhibitor, backed out at the last moment because of 

 some trouble in the past with one of our judges, but we had a very creditable 

 showing as it was in the heavy draft classes. 



The night horse show was the best ever seen in Michigan, and is getting 

 better every year. It is a real credit to our State Fair and premiums should 

 be increased, thereby making this exhibit more attractive than ever. 



I would make this one suggestion, however, that all judges in the Live Stock 

 Department be changed next year. No irregularities have occurred to my knowl- 

 edge, but I think a change as suggested would be for the better. 



IMPLEMENT DEPARTMENT. 



The Implement Department was the best ever seen at any State Fair, both in 

 number'of exhibits and arrangement of same, and great credit has come to the 

 Michigan State Fair as a result of the magnitude and diversity of the exhibits 

 made in this department. 



EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT. 



The Educational Department was first class and had a greater number of ex- 

 hibits tastefully arranged than any other exhibit of its kind previous to the 1911 

 State Fair. 1 would suggest that we abolish the rule restricting the amount of 

 premiums won by any school to $100.00. In my mind, this is unfair to the up- 

 to-date schools with thousands of pupils who collectively make a much larger 

 display than the small country schools with nine or ten pupils, because it is as 

 fair to assume that a large breeder of live stock should be curtailed in the amount 

 of premiums he can win. 



NEEDLEWORK DEPARTMENT. 



The Needlework Department would be better off in some other location, as it 

 seems to me to be out of place in the Michigan Building, especially so because the 

 majority of people are not as much interested in this department as in others. 

 In other words, the prominent position of this exhibit is out of proportion 

 to the importance of the exhibit. 



SPEED DEPARTMENT. 



You already have an exhaustive report from the Secretary of Races covering 

 the financial side of this department. However, 1 have made a tabulation of the 

 expense of free attractions in front of the grand stand and amount of purses paid 

 for horse races, also, the amount of revenue derived from this depart- 

 ment, and this tabulation may assist you in determining the amount of purses 

 we are to offer in the future. 



Statement showing receipts from grand stand and cost of attractions since 1909. 



