580 STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



charging their respective duties. The visitors returned to the city at about 5 

 p. m., well pleased with the results of the expedition. 



Thursday Evening, Jamiary 16. 



The convention resumed the general order. The first subject brought up 

 was that of oilicers competing for prizes. The subject was freely discussed. 



Mr. Richmond offered a resolution, which was adopted, declaring it to be the 

 sense of the convention that it is inexpedient for agricultural societies to pro- 

 hibit ofiicers of the society from being competitors for prizes. 



The rule of competition was then defined. J. AVebster Ohilds and secretary 



Little made some extended remarks. The point of discussion seemed to be 



whether one exhibitor should be entitled to 1st, 2d, and 3d prizes in the same 



class. The discussion was finally closed by J. N. Smith offering for adoption 



rules 17 and 18 of the Central Michigan Agricultural Society, which were 



adopted as follows : 



Judges will not award premiums to unworthy animals or articles in any case. 

 Where there is no competition, judges will not award premiums except the animals 

 or articles exhibited are meritorious.'" 



The matter of complimentary tickets was discussed^ and the general opinion 

 seemed to be that they should only be issued as interchanges between societies 

 and for the press. 



The issuing of passes to exhibitors and employes being the next topic, after 

 full discussion, was settled by the adoption of a resolution offered by B. B. 

 Baker, providing that the issuing of passes for general purposes to exhibitors 

 or their employes be discouraged. 



The next topic was the time for closing the entries at fairs. L. B. Potter 

 offered a resolution recommending as the uniform practice of all agricultural 

 societies as soon as possible that the entries shall be made and the entry books 

 closed on the day prior to commencing the fairs of such societies. David 

 "Woodman deemed it inexpedient if not impracticable in many places to observe 

 such a rule rigidly, and offered an amendment that the entry books be closed, 

 so far as practicable, before the opening of the fair. The resolution, as finally 

 adopted, provides that all entries shall be made and the books closed not later 

 than the evening of the first day of the fair. 



The convention then adjourned until 9 o'clock Friday morning. 



Friday Morning, 9 A. M. 



GENERAL ORDER. 



Mr. Woolsey, of Calhoun, moved that the issuing of life membership tickets 

 by agricultural societies be discountenanced, and that where they exist, socie- 

 ties should make an effort to take them up. Adopted. 



Mr. Mann, of Lenawee, moved that in county societies we do not deem it 

 expedient to confine judges to pedigrees in making awards regardless of merit, 

 unless the entry be made at least two weeks prior to the fair, so that the cor- 

 rectness of the pedigree may be investigated. Adopted. 



Mr. AVhitney, of Muskegon, moved that diplomas should be held and con- 

 sidered, as aniong the highest awards given by any society, and that they should 

 in no case be classed among inferior prizes. Adopted. 



Secretary Little submitted report upon form of statistical blanks, which was 

 adopted as follows : 



