596 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



to sell the society land. Committees Avere appointed, who examined several 

 plats and made estimates of the cost of purchase and fitting up. But no per- 

 son was found public spirited enough to furnish the necessary funds. All 

 agreed that land was wanted ; how to pay for it, became at last the leading 

 topic for discussion. 



It seemed to be the general sense that the people of the county ought to pay 

 one-half, and Kalamazoo village tiie other half. And the only regret now is 

 that some sagacious person present did not offer a resolution to that effect, 

 which would have passed unanimously, and thus have rid us of any further 

 trouble in this direction. A committee was chosen, consisting of Hon. Heze- 

 kiah (Jr. Wells as chairman, and Hon. James M. Neasmith and Bradley S. 

 Williams, associates, to prepare a bill for enactment at the present session of 

 the legislature, to provide for raising by tax upon the people of the county a 

 sum, not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, for the purchase, or purchase and 

 fitting up of suitable fair grounds for the County Agricultural Society. 



If agricultural societies confer no appreciable benefits upon the public ; if 

 they do not stimulate to a higher type, to a more rapid development of the 

 science, and to the new methods of farming ; if they do not tend to elevate the 

 general tone and thrift of the farming class ; to the introduction of improved 

 stock, and new varieties of seeds; to disclose tlie advantages and resources of the 

 locality, giving us a name and prestige abroad ; if they were not in the broad- 

 est sense imaginable, public institutions whose sole aim and object is to advance 

 public interest, then in that case, they would have no claim, and the public 

 should not be asked to aid in their support. 



On the other hand, if the farmers of the county appreciated the society, its 

 aims and objects ; had they faith in the benefits to be derived ; that in these 

 years of advanced thought and human progress, it would be disgraceful to be 

 found listless, or to take any step backward ; were they fully awake on the sub- 

 ject, we should need no legislative enactments, no tax, no private subscriptions. 



There are in this county 1,857 persons owning farms of 80 acres and upwards. 

 If each of these persons would contribute the annual membership fee of one 

 dollar, the revenue from that source alone would amount to $1,857. We sold 

 326 memberships tliisyear ! 



Societies are forced to resort to all sorts of special attractions, of questiona- 

 ble character and utility to bring out the people. Notorious public characters 

 have been paid five liundred dollars to show themselves on tlio fair ground for 

 an hour. I treat the " address," so-called, as of no perceptible value. In con- 

 nection with this prostitution to base uses, this resort to questionable expedi- 

 ents, may be classed "tests of speed " of professional or track horses. These 

 horses are ke])t and used solely for racing purposes, to win prizes at " meet- 

 ings." 



The public interest in the outcome of the pool-box has declined, sensibly, 

 and why should such a large sum, that ought to be apportioned to other depart- 

 ments, be distributed in ti direction yielding no beneficial results whatever ? 



Our attention was called through tlie public press, by a citizen of the county, 

 the past season, to an alleged inequality in respect to the premiums offered in 

 tlie list for 1878. He claimed that the article of wlieat, the leading staple of 

 the farmers of Michigan, had not been duly recognized, but that, in view of 

 its great commercial value the premium was ridiculously insignificant. The 

 criticism being a common one, made by other people in other departments, I 

 attempted an explanation of the theory of prizes as offered from which I now 

 quote : 



