BEPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 583 



all contingent expenses and premiums, both regular and discretionary, and that 

 a small balance has been added to the funds in the treasury. 



There were many friends at the outset who predicted failure, or at least mod- 

 erate success. They said that the year was unpropitious for such enterprises. 

 The great national exhibition at Philadelphia would absorb public attention and 

 the spare change or means of the country, and besides this the Presidential 

 campaign would involve in its surging tide of excitement and anxieties the entire 

 people of the country. But the officers of the society were not dismayed, neither 

 did they relax in any way their efforts in furtherance of the interests of the 

 association. The result shows that neither the centennial exhibition or the 

 contest for the Presidency had any appreciable influence, or affected materially 

 the prosperity of the society. 



Officers of an agricultural society appreciate more fully than any other class 

 of people, probably, the many contingencies that overhang and determine the 

 success of an out-of-doors exhibition. No matter how thoroughly the prelim- 

 inaries may have been adjusted ; no matter how well disposed the people may 

 be to render their share of assistance, a storm on the principal day of the fair, 

 if of any considerable magnitude, will bring to naught, in a pecuniary sense, 

 the entire Avork of tlie season. Probably three-fourths of the county agricultu- 

 ral societies of the State held their fairs the same week in September that we 

 did, and all of them suffered in a greater or less degree from the unfavorable 

 weather that commenced Thursday morning, the 26th of September, and con- 

 tinued on through the rest of the week. Tlie week following was no better, — 

 Avorse if anything, — and so Ave have reason to be thankful that Ave pulled safely 

 through Avithout pecuniary loss. 



Competent fair judges in such matters have estimated that the rain storm of 

 Thursday forenoon diminished the receipts at the gate at least one thousand 

 dollars. I think it is safe to say, from all the previous indications, Avhich Avere 

 unusually and decidedly promising, that had the AA'eather continued favorable 

 we should haA'e realized the most successful fair CA'er held by the society. 



Year by year there has been a decided improA'ement in the interest mani- 

 fested in the society by the people of the county. The attendance also has 

 been steadily increasing, and the entries in the various departments have been 

 larger in number and better in quality. 



Tlie marked improA^ement in numbers and quality of the cattle on exhibition 

 ^at the last fair, in comparison Avith former years, is deserving of special men- 

 *tion. 



Herein may be seen the direct influence of our annual exhibitions in awaken- 

 ing an interest and stimulating a healthful emulation which is producing valu- 

 able and satisfactory results. 



Six thoroughbred Shorthorn bulls of various ages Avere entered for competi- 

 tion, one of which, oAvned in this county, gained the blue ribbon OA'er all com- 

 petitors at the Michigan State Agricultural Fair of 18?5. 



There Avere fifteen grade bulls also exhibited, some of them scarcely inferior 

 to the thoroughbreds; Avhile the show of herds of thoroughbreds, grades, and 

 of fat cattle elicited universal commendation. 



In regard to the comparatiA'e merits of Shorthorns and other distinct breeds, 

 it is not my province at this time to discuss, but I may be pardoned in saying 

 that they seem to be much appreciated by nearly all the leading stock -growers 

 of the country, and that the American Herd-Book has already a list recorded 

 of over 60,000 well bred animals. 



