KEPOKTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 577 



treasurer. Under such management as theirs, the enterprise cannot fail of 

 success, if the machine maintains the good opinion of the farmers with which 

 it has started out. 



Another is the manufacture of malleable cast iron at the Genesee Iron Works 

 of Kimball & Co. in the city of Flint. This merits special mention, it being 

 the only malleable iron foundry in our State, aud its work is distributed all over 

 Michigan and into neighboring States. 



TRANSACTIONS. 



The transactions of the society during the year present no unusual features. 



The twenty-sixth annual meeting was held on the 12th of January, 1876. 

 After the presentation and acceptance of the annual reports the following offi- 

 cers were elected by ballot : 



President — Henry Schram of Burton. 

 Secretary — Francis H. Eankin of city of Flint. 

 Treasurer — Oren Stone of city of Flint. 



Directors^ each for two years — Elijah W. Eising of Davison, John C. Daytou of city 

 of Flint, Chandler H. Eockwood of Genesee, Joseph M. Peck of Mnndy. 



The board of directors held meetings for the revision of the premium list and 

 appointment of judges on March 7th and 24th and June 8th. Some of the 

 classes for competition were considerably extended, and that of delaine merino 

 sheep stricken out as not affording any marked distinctive characteristics from 

 those of fine merino sheep. In view of the interest already sjioken of as hav- 

 ing been created in tlie exhibition of poultry, the board appropriated the sum 

 of 175 aud invited the officers of the Poultry Association to apportion the same 

 in suitable premiums for the different varieties and take charge of the arrange- 

 ment of tlie coops and regulations for their exhibition at the county fair, which 

 they did with marked success ; and the society is indebted to them, and espe- 

 cially to Col. 0. F. Lochhead, for the time and ability devoted to that work. 



In other respects no material change was made from the programme of the 

 previous year. 



At a subsequent meeting it was deemed advisable to take measures for erect- 

 ing a new building for the poultry exhibition and for remodeling the interior 

 arrangement of the floral hall. A committee was appointed to take direction 

 and supervision of the work, which Avas duly performed, and the result found 

 to be valuable improvements. The poultry hall covers 24x42 feet, with 14 feet 

 posts, windows on the sides and shingled roof. Experience proved the wisdom 

 of this erection, for the exhibition there drew a crowd to the hall during the 

 e ntire continuance of the fair. 



The county fair opened on September 26th and held four days. It was feared 

 by many that the concentration of attention upon the great Centennial Exposi- 

 tion w^ould entirely defeat the attraction of local exhibitions in the centennial 

 year. To some extent it did undoubtedly interfere with our fair, as very many 

 of our usual members aud exhibitors were absent at Philadelphia. Still the 

 fair was quite successful. The show of cattle w^as the finest we ever had. All 

 the best horses in the county were present, though the entries Avere not so many 

 as in 1875, and there was a larger proportion of inferior horses shown than in 

 that year. As usual the show of sheep was large and superior ; and there were 

 many fine animals in the hog pens. The poultry exceeded any thing in that 

 line ever before seen on the grounds. We had the usual display in the other 

 halls, the fruit, vegetable, and field crops being all superior. The awards of the 

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