578 STATE BOAIID OF AGRICULTURE. 



fault-fiiuling or captious spirit, but to demonstrate that iti the present condition of 

 things our progress must necessarily bo very slow." 1 would say for nu'self that I 

 have desired especially to bring tliis point before you, as I feel ver^^ desirous that the 

 reports from county societies niiglit be made much more valuable than they are. 



I have one more suggestion, and witli this I close; The county society should 

 seek not merely to foster and encourage every branch of industry in the locality, but 

 also to encourage all classes of commnnit.y, male and female, old and young, and my 

 closing words shall be a plea in behalf of the boys. I have often thought that the 

 boys on the farm are not as much brought out and encouraged as in many other 

 situations. How seldom you hear of a farmer taking his son into partnership or 

 giving him any interest in the business with him until circumstances really compel 

 it. I liave no' doubt many a young man has left the old home and abandoned the 

 occupation of farming because he felt that to remain was to prolong indefinitely the 

 period of his minority. Now, is there nothing the county society can do for the 

 bovs ? "Why should not they be encouraged to compete for premiums as well as their 

 fathers? Tlie question, I tliink, is worthy of consideration. I have no doubt but 

 that to extend to the boj's some such recognition of their importance in carrying on 

 the work of the farm, as would be involved in their competing for a premium at the 

 fair, might prove just the encouragement needed to give them an interest in their 

 work, and keep them on the farm, where in nine cases out of ten the}' will be vastly 

 better oft" than anywhere else. I was much pleased to see in the last number of the 

 '•New England Farmer" that a Mr. Allen, of Boston, offers the following special 

 premium : " With an earnest desire to encourage the farmer's boys, I propose to offer 

 the following prizes to boys of York County, Maine, of sixteen years of age and 

 under: To the boy who shall raise the most Indian corn on one-eighth of an acre of 

 land in the j-ear 1879, one hundred dollars; to the boy who shall raise the next 

 largest quantity, fifty dollars; to the five boys who shall raise the next largest 

 quantit}', ten dollars each." Then follows a statement of the conditions under which 

 the award is to be made. The last of these conditions is specially worth}-- of notice. 

 "At the end of the season each contestant shall make and sign a full report giving 

 shape, description and location of land, when planted, when and how many times 

 hoed, when stalks were topped, if at all, when harvested and how much is raised, and 

 as nearly as can be estimated, the value of manure and number of days' labor spent 

 upon the crop." I trust that many may follow Mr. Allen's example, for such 

 encouragement of the farmer's boys would undoubtedly be productive of much good. 



Geniiemen, I vhank you for your courtesy and attention. The suggestions I have 

 made, though those of one much less experienced than yourselves in the matters to 

 Avhich they relate, are from one who has a high appreciation of your work. Make 

 your societies all that they can be made to promote the various industries worthy to 

 be fostered and encouraged, and as the exponents of the best results in each, and youi* 

 work will be wide and lasting in its influence, and will be seen in the progressive 

 improvement of many a farm and workshop, and in the increased comfort and adorn- 

 ment of many a rural home. 



A vote of thanks was tendered to secretary Baird, for his able address, and a 

 copy of the same was requested for publication in the transactions of this asso- 

 ciation. 



Secretary Baird extended an invitation to the convention, which was accepted, 

 to visit the Agricultural College at 1 : -'30 P. ^r., to-day. 



Secretary l^ittle then read the following communication : 



Michigan State Agricultural Socikty, ) 



Executive Committee in Session. [■ 



Michigan Exchange, Detroit, Jan. lyth, 1879. ) 



To the President of the Convention of Delegates from Countij Agr''l Societies of Mich. : 



Sir, — I am directed to inform you that Executive Committee, having learned that 

 the annual convention of delegates of county agricultural societies of the State is 

 now in session at Lansing, have adopted the following resolution, and have appoint- 

 ed Mr. Cobb, of Kalamazoo, Mr. Cliilds. of Washtenaw, and Mr. Howard, of Pent- 

 water, as delegates to represent the ^lichigan State Agricultural Society in your 

 convention. 

 Mr. Baxter ofiVn-ed the following resolution: 



"Whereas, The County Agriculiinal Societies of Michigan have a State organiza- 

 tion which meets at Lansing this Wednesday evening; 



