KEPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 57&' 



In the breeding of horses we stand on a footing with many counties in the 

 State. A medium size adapted to the farm and road take the lead, but the 

 heavy draft are being tried by some. Their profit is yet to be determined. 



Our flocks are not large, but generally select. The low price of wool for the 

 last two years has caused most thorough culling, and the result is a third less 

 months to fill and care for, yet an equal amount of wool. Besides this, our 

 flock-masters have resorted to feeding for eastern markets more than ever. 

 This helps to balance up the account and keep up the fertility of the farm. 



Our swine are of a high type ; very few mongrel or mixed pens are seen. 

 There are two classes : large and small boned. The former are made up of 

 Magee and Poland (by many these are claimed as one and the same breed). 

 Of the latter we have the Berkshire, Essex, Suffolk, and a hog from a cross of 

 the little Grass of twenty years ago on the better Chester Whites. This will be 



^ ml O 



the favorite with those who are prejudiced on color, as they mature early, are 

 very docile, and have an abundance of hair which will prevent cracking. 



Our county is having a severe and protracted run of hen fever. It develops 

 in some twenty different types. Every city and village is full of it, and it is 

 spreading to every farmyard in the county. The disease having been carefully 

 diagnosed, we have no particular fear of the result. 



Since our last report more than a half million of dollars of our manufactur- 

 ing interests have yielded to the pressure of the times and closed their works. 

 The effect of this will be most seriously felt by the whole county. Our artizans 

 will be driven out, our population diminished, and our home markets curtailed. 



Our educational interests are in fine condition throughout the county. Union 

 and district schools were never in a more flourishing condition. Another beauti- 

 ful hall, 72x52 feet, three stories and basement, for the commercial department, 

 has been added to the group of ncAv buildings for Hillsdale College the present 

 year, making now four out of the five of the group already built, giving facili- 

 ties for educating over a thousand of our young men and women at once. 



Of the many sources for practical information and enjoyment to the tillers 

 of the soil, there is none that will compare with a Avell-regulated agricultural 

 fair. It is here that all meet on an equal footing ; it is here acquaintances 

 formed often ripen to lasting friendships ; here the eye is trained by comparison 

 to detect imperfections or measure values; here lessons in human nature may 

 be learned in the shortest period ; selfishness and ill-breeding, as well as liber- 

 ality and refinement, will be conspicuous at every turn. To those who have 

 long enjoyed these schools of instruction, it would be a great disappointment 

 to be deprived of their annual visits. To show the interest taken in making 

 our exhibitions a success, we append a tabulated statement of the number of 

 exhibitors, number of entries, number of awards, and amount of premiums in 

 each department of our last fair. 



