446 STATE BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. 



MACHINERY. 



It is very important to increase the home production of all kinds of valuable 

 machinery used ill tlie State, as our manufacturers increase. To be profitable, the 

 best class of machinery must be used. We have plenty of coal, iron, copper, wood, 

 and all the materials necessary to make first-class machinery, and we certainly have 

 suflacient skilled workmen to manufacture it, and yet thousands of dollars are annu- 

 ally sent out of the State to purchase machinery to be used by our people. 



This subject should have a careful consideration, and if possible adopt some 

 method to induce the production of all, or nearly all, the machinery required in this 

 State by our own manufacturers, thereby not only saving a large amount of money 

 .annually to our own citizens, but foster and promote the education of our own people 

 in this important and indispensable branch of industry. 



POMOLOGICAL OR HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This society is a valuable auxiliary to the State Agricultural Society ; it has its 

 peculiar work, which has been successfully performed, and so important and thorough 

 has been its work, and the consequent result of its labors, that the whole State has 

 been greatly benefited in the valuable productions of improved fruits, and has 

 received much credit and favorable comment for its thorough educational system 

 and the production and exhibition of the various kinds of fruits raised in the State, 

 in successful competition with the oldest and best fruit growers in the country. 



Their work is still making favorable progress; they and it richly deserve, and I 

 feel confident will receive, favorable consideration and generous treatment from this 

 committee and society, 



AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The June meetings for the last three years, at the Agricultural College, have been 

 a source of pleasure to the committee, of undoubted gratification to the faculty, and, 

 we trust, profitable to the students; it has enabled our members to examine the 

 practical workings of the college, of the manner and kind of education imparted 

 there; and I feel confident tlie information sought, collected, and to be promulgated 

 by this society through the annual report of our special committee, will be well 

 received through the State, and will add to its already many friends. 



In addition to the other kindred societies it has been our pleasure to meet at Lans- 

 ing the last three years— and which I am informed are to be continued — will be added 

 this year the State Pioneer Society, which has changed the time of holding its 

 annual meeting from February to the first Wednesday in June, as being a more pro- 

 pitious season of the year for the gathering of the old and labor-worn veterans of 

 the forest. I favor the continuance of these meetings. 



The fiinancial condition of this Society is strong and satisfactory ; it has now a sur- 

 plus fund of over $20,000, quite a large share of it invested in United States bonds 

 drawing interest. Its finances have been very satisfactorily managed by our present 

 worthy treasurer, Mr. Dean, for the last ten years; his accounts are always clear, dis- 

 tinct, and properly rendered; all proper claims against the Society are promptly and 

 courteously paid; all vouchers are properly classified, compared, and preserved; the 

 system of procuring, selling, and taking up tickets is safe and well guarded. 



While the financial results of the last Fair did not add much to the surplus fund, it 

 still accomplished, in a large measure, the object of the Society. There was a large 

 and very satisfactory exhibition in most all of the important departments; the com- 

 petition was spirited but harmonious, and the awards generally satisfactory. The 

 attendance at the Fair was very good, and they seemed to give more than usual 

 attention to the merits of the exhibition. 



The policy of this Society in conducting its Fairs, making premium lists, etc., is, 

 and I think very properly should be, liberal, but must be firm and decided. Our 

 business and aim is to foster all proper and valuable industries of the State, but that 

 must be done with our legitimate means; the Society must be self-supporting; the 

 premium list should be as large as the safe financial point will permit, but must be 

 wisely discriminating to make successful fairs. 



REDUCTION OF EXPENSES. 



At the last winter meeting, on the recommendation of the President, a special 

 committee was appointed to devise ways and means for the reduction of the expenses 

 of the Society. After a careful consideration of the subject, they made a report, and 

 recommended a hoped-for reduction, in the various departments, of |3,780, which was 

 adopted by the Executive Committee. 



