REPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES, 585 



Membershi]:) tickets - - - 8322 00 



Gate tickets and grand stand 1, 568 70 



Entries, speed, and sweepstakes . . - 23? 50 



Total receipts - $2,644 65 



EXPENDITURES. 



Paid contingent expenses $986 31 



Paid prenuum checks 1,365 72 



PaidD. U. Reed 132 29 



Balance of cash - 160 33 



Total expenditures and cash . - - - - - S2, 644 65 



TREASURY STATEMENT, JAN. 13, 1877. 



Balance in treasury Jan, 15, 1876. - -- $1,371 79 



Balance from fair of 1876 net. - - 160 33 



Total cash balance in treasury Jan. 12, 1877- $1,532 12 



I would again call attention to the fact that tlierc is now an Association of 

 Agricultural Societies of Michigan, formed and in active operation. A cou- 

 vcntion was held recently at the city of Jackson. Our Society ^Yas duly repre- 

 sented. The range of topics discussed covered nearly the entire ground of 

 points connected with the management and success of the county Societies in 

 general, and elicited tlie active interest and attention of all the delegates in 

 attendance. The official report of the doings of the convention, it is expected, 

 ■will appear in the annual report of the Michigan State Board of Agriculture 

 for 1876, The convention adopted various recommendations and suggestions 

 to agricultural societies, among which maybe named, "That horse racing at 

 agricultural fairs be discountenanced," "That family, or season tickets of 

 all kinds be discarded." "That premium ribbons and cards be withheld until 

 the last day of the fair," "That games of chance, spirituous and malt liquors 

 and immoral shows be excluded from the grounds ;" and that an effort be made 

 by appropriate legislation to link the Agricultural Societies of the State more 

 closely with the Michigan State Board of Agriculture. 



While the officers of the Kalamazoo County Agricultural Society have, I 

 think, faithfully endeavored to keep pace with tlie onward march of events, 

 and avail themselves of such experiences and suggestions as promised the best 

 results ; and while I feel that I am warranted in claiming for our Society du- 

 ring its later years, a management that will compare favorably with the other 

 societies of the State, still it is but fair to say that perfection is not reached, 

 nor is it claimed, by any means ; but on the contrary, there are many features 

 pertaining to the organization and carrying out of the details of the fair, that 

 it seems difficult to adjust upon an entirely satisfactory basis. 



So long as money is required for admission at the gates, so long as premium 

 lists do not provide, and viewing committees award, I had said, a first prize to 

 each and every exhibitor, so long as any considerable number of the farmers of 

 the county only attend and participate in the annual exhibitions of tne Society 

 in cojisideration of such pecuniary inducements as may chance to be offered in 



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