5S2 STATE BOARD OF AGEICULTUEE. 



Tclating to agricultiirnl and kindi-ecl societies, adding whatever else may be necessaiy, 

 and expunging wliatever ouglit to be out of present laws, so there will be no friction, 

 but perfect harmony in running all our agricultural, poniological, and stock breeders' 

 societies from the least to the greatest of them. Let such a bill become a law, and 

 repeal all existing ones on the subject; 



Thirds 1 hope the convention will devise some effective plan, by law or otherwise, 

 to secure the absolute closing of all entry books at least ten days prior to the first day 

 of the several fairs. This w'ould avoid many grevious mistakes, save great annoy- 

 ances, economize time and expenses, enable judges to do their work with some intel- 

 ligent satisfaction to themselves, the societj', exhibitors, and visitors. It would then 

 be practical for superintendents in the various dei^artments to systematize, organize, 

 and arrange ever3^thing in order. It would afford time for providing required addi- 

 tional accommodations, and, in my judgment, would more than double the real value 

 of every fair in the State. Until this "reform" is brought about, our agricultural 

 and other similar exhibitions must largely be "s/iows of anarchy and contusion^ If 

 the State societies will lead, and a few of the older and better of the county and dis- 

 trict societies follow in this much needed revolution, it will at once be a glorious 

 victory without bloodshed; 



Fourth. Our fairs should be brought to be regarded as " Institutes of industry and arts,''' 

 and should serve a purpose similar to '■ teachers institutes" in our educational depart- 

 ment. To this end all pools and every kind of gambling should be thoroughly inter- 

 dicted, and every possible facility should be afforded visitors and exhibitors to study 

 the exhibition and gain such practical knowledge as will be of great benefit. 



Fifth, The time for holding the several fairs is a matter of a good deal of impor- 

 tance, and should be agreed npon by this convention, if possible, and perhaps should 

 be regulated in tbe law in some manner; for instance, let the first half of September 

 be assigned to all county and smaller societies, the last half to the district and large 

 union societies, and the first half of October to the State Agricultural and Poniolog- 

 ical societies, and all merely equine organizations, I think, should hold their meet- 

 ings during the summer, and well in advance of other exhibitions, so as to be out of 

 their way. Hoping the convention will be large, harmonious, and successful, 1 remain, 



Yours truly, 



L. B. POTTER. 



Mr. De Forest moved 



" That it is desirable that the prize ribbons and cards be withheld until the last day 

 of the fair." 



Adopted. 



Mr. Carpenter offered the following resolution which was unanimously 



adopted : 



Besolved, That it is the sense of this convention that it is detrimental to the inter- 

 ests of Countj- Agricultural Societies, and demoralizing to the community to allow the 

 selling of spirituous or malt liquors upon the grounds during the exhibition, or to 

 allow gambling of any sort, or the selling of prize packages in any form; and we do 

 earnestly recommend that all Countj' Societies in the State adopt rules expressly 

 prohibiting the aforesaid evils. 



By Prof. Garfield: 



liesohed, That a committee of three be appointed from this convention to whom 

 shall be referred the suggestion in the President's address concerning the State Board 

 of Agriculture. This committee shall be instructed to examine the State law under 

 ■which our present Board of Agriculture was formed, and shall, if they deem it advisa- 

 ble, draft a bill by w^hich the law shall be so modified as to bring about a more inti- 

 mate relationship between the Board and the farmers of the State, and so that the 

 Board shall be a most available means of gathering and disseminating the latest and 

 best information upon agricultural topics. Further, that if such draft be made the 

 committee shall take the proper means to secure its adoption at the coming session 

 of the Legislature. 



Adopted. 



Mr. Kelsey moved that a committee consisting of President Glidden, Secre- 

 tary Little, and Messrs. Cobb, Sessions, and Potter, be chosen a committee to 

 caa-ry out the provisions of the resolution offered by Prof. Garfield. — Carried. 



