REPORTS FROM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 591 



placing articles, especially in frait, agricultural, and art halls, and moved the 



following, which was adopted : 



Besolved, That it is the conviction of tliis Association tliat to better subserve the 

 interests of tliose who are to be benefited by our annual exliibitions, all articles of the 

 same name entered in the same class should be grouped together. 



Mr. Kelsey moved that the convention recommend that animals or articles 

 having received a first prize at any fair should not be eligible for the same prize 

 at any succeeding fair. The motion did not prevail. 



Convention then adjourned until 9 A. M. 



MORNING SESSION. 



Convention opened under the fourth order of business, "Speed Premiums for 

 Horses." 



Mr. Sessions moved tliat it be declared as the sense of this convention that 

 ' it is not desirable to offer a purse exceeding 8100 in any one class for trials of 

 speed at county fairs. Mr. Wood moved to amend by discarding speed premi- 

 ums. Dr. Mitchell moved that a simple declaration discountenancing horse 

 racing be made, but his motion was lost. Mr. Sessions offered a substitute as 

 follows, Avhich was adopted : 



Resolved, That this association would earnestly protest against the vicious practice 

 of county societies offering large premiums or prizes as speed premiums, and the 

 offering of any premium based on speed alone. But would recommend the offering of 

 liberal premiums for the encouragement of breeding good horses, and that they shall 

 be' judged not by speed alone, but by all the qualities that constitute value in the 

 horse for road, carriage, or market purposes. 



The subject of special attractions was discussed at some length and a resolu- 

 tion by Mr. Jones, stating that it is for the interest of agricultural societies to 

 offer special prizes as an attraction at the fairs, was carried. Mr. Pringle of 

 this city said he thought it desirable tluit in the award of premiums tbe various 

 committees sbould state their reasons and give to the public the benefit of their 

 observations and make a full exposition of the basis of award. 



Mr. Pringle offered the following, whicli was adopted : 



Besolved, That it be recommended to all societies, so far as practicable, to cause the 

 reports of premiums by committees or judges to be i-ead before the close of the fair, 

 in view of the animals or articles judged, to be accompanied bj' oral explanations 

 from competent persons, showing the reasons for the awards and pointing the les- 

 sons of the exhibition. 



Time of liolding fairs — Mr. Baker moved that the association deem it verv 

 desirable that the time of holding fairs be arranged as follows : 1st, township 

 fairs, farmers' clubs; 2d, county fairs; 3d, district fairs; 4th, State Fair. 

 Adopted. 



Tiie following letter from the retiring Vice-President was read : 



Lansing, Mich., Dec, 11, 1876. 

 Frank Little, Esq., Kalamazoo. Mich.: 



Dear Sir. — Your card and notices were received some days since. It now looks as 

 though circumstances would deny me the desired privilege of attending tlie conven- 

 tion, and therefore I write you a few suggestions as to what I think the convention 

 ought, at least, to try to accomplish. Aiid, as we cannot hope to do all at a single 

 meeting, think 



First, The convention should take all needed measures to perpetuate and enlarge 

 itself; 



Second, To appoint an able committee who will, at once, go about the work of devis- 

 ing and drafting a bill, to be early brought by them to the attention of the approach- 

 ing session of our Legislature; said bill to contain all the good in all existing laws 



