PROCEEDINGS AND REPORTS. 191 



dollars to be offered in four premiums to the best drilled companies, believ- 

 ing it would help the Society and encourage the military companies to greater 

 proficiency. I did not succeed in securing the money in this way, the gentle- 

 men asked being unwilling to contribute for this purpose. Capt. H. F. Hatch, 

 of the Jackson Guard, then offered to raise the one thousand dollars for 

 premiums and pay all expenses of the drill for one-half the receipts of the 

 day. This proposition, after consultation with Mr. Hyde, chairman of the 

 business committee, was agreed to, and whatever may be the opinion of the 

 committee, I believe it was a wise thing to do, and would recommend that 

 it be continued, under such arrangements as you may deem best for the 

 Society. 



Michigan ranks fourth among the other states of the Union in the matter 

 of sheep and wool growing, and only California and Ohio produce more 

 pounds of wool. The number of sheep reported sheared in 1885 was 2,575,000, 

 producing 14,560,000 pounds of wool. This wool at the average price of 22 

 cents a pound would bring the producer $3,203,200. This Society has 

 encouraged high breeding, of the best grades of sheep, but has, in my opin- 

 ion, failed to encourage the producer in preparing and tying up his wool in 

 the best style to bring the highest price in market. I recommend that instead 

 of the premium on samples of wool, that liberal premiums be offered for the 

 best fleeces of fine, medium and coarse wools, not less than two of each ; and 

 a special premium should be paid for the best style of preparing and tying 

 up wool for the market. I am satisfied that a great loss is incurred by the 

 growers of wool because proper care is not taken in preparing it more neatly 

 for the market. Improvement in this direction is needed and would pay 

 well. 



I recommend that the dairy interest of the State be carefully considered, 

 and that more encouragement be given to exhibitors in this department. 



The State Horticultural Society has held its annual exhibitions with us for 

 a number of years, much to the advantage of both societies, as I had supposed. 

 Our Society paid to the Horticultural Society two thousand dollars last year 

 to aid in its exhibition with us. I thought the exhibit in that department 

 could not be excelled in Michigan or elsewhere, and it certainly should not 

 be excelled with this liberal use of funds by our Society, and the high stand- 

 ing which the Horticultural Society has in the State. Yet, I am told on 

 good authority, that the exhibits in the horticultural department of the West 

 Michigan Fair at Grand Kapids last fall, was superior both in point of excel- 

 lence and variety of exhibits to the display made in this department at our 

 last Fair. I call attention to this matter for your consideration. 



The Forage Department should in some way be made less expensive to 

 the Society. Fifteen hundred dollars is too great an expense in this depart- 

 ment; it cannot be avoided under the present system, but the system can and 

 ought to be changed. 



The Premium List needs a very careful revision at this meeting, and the 

 expense acount should be reduced. It is not safe, in my judgment, for the 

 Society to assume a total expense for the ensuing year greater than sixteen 

 thousand dollars. 



The Society has paid its Secretary an annual salary of one thousand dol- 

 lars in addition to his hotel and traveling expenses, and the Treasurer has 

 been allowed a book-keeper at a salary of four hundred dollars a year. It 

 seems to me that the salary of the Secretary should be reduced to eight hun- 



