-208 MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 



FORAGE. 



To the President and Executive Committee of the Michigan State Agricultural Society : 

 Gentlemen — The Superintendent of Forage would respectfully report that the feel- 

 ing in his department was universally good, but the circumstances were not as favor- 

 able as could be desired owing to the incompleteness of the grounds at the opening of 

 the Fair, and the stalls and peas being so packed together that it was impossible to 

 deliver the hay and straw without trouble and waste, carrying it long distances, and 

 with the bad weather and the large stock on exhibition, which had to be tied to the 

 fence and to any place that could be found, and which had to be fed on the ground, 

 the large expenses were unavoidable. I would recommend that we charge 50 cents for 

 •every horse over six months old, and 50 cents for every head of cattle over six months ; 

 25 cents for every sheep over that age, to be paid at the time of entry, for hay and 



straw for the week of the Fair. 



E. W, RISING, 



Superintendent. 



The report was accepted and referred to the Committee on Kules. 

 Chief Marshal A. 0. Hyde reported as follows : 



marshal's report. 



Mr. President and Executive Committee Michigan State Agricultural Society : 



It should be the aim of the Marshal and assistants to render all the aid in their power 

 by promptness in helping arrange and carry forward the business intrusted to them. 

 The direct and constant business of the Marshal and assistants is more thoroughly 

 identified with the exhibition of cattle and horses during the Fair, than with other divi- 

 sions. Any casual observer can see at a glance that their duties are constant, and it is 

 only by their strict attention to work in aiding the superintendents in these heavy divi- 

 sions, that enables them to get through with their overburdened classes. For instance, 

 at the last Fair with a programme that required every moment of time allotted without 

 interruptions, we had the great rain storm of Thursday, causing an entire suspension 

 of examinations for several hours. Here was much time lost that must be made up in 

 some way. In view of the great amount of work to be done, much thought and care 

 must be used in so dividing the work by a well arranged programme that it may be 

 made possible to get along without slighting, or going too hastily through the exami- 

 nations of some of the very numerous classes. We beg leave to again remind the 

 superintendents that in addition to good judgment a proper degree of prompt, business 

 like dispatch is a very desirable qualification in the judges they may select. The 

 Marshals return their sincere thanks to the multitude that attend the Fair, for their 

 uniform good behavior and prompt compliance with all requests. Also to any fault 

 finders for the great pains they take in preventing their complaints from reaching our 

 «ars. 



A. O. HYDE, 



Chief Marshal. 



Eeport accepted. 



Mr. Parsons presented an invitation, with the compliments of Mr. C. J. 

 Whitney, asking the Executive Committee to visit his theatre to-morrow 

 evening. Accepted with thanks. 



Mr. Hanford moved that the address of the President be referred to a 

 committee of three, to recommend a subdivision of subjects. 



