MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 447 



I am confident every reasonable eliort was made during the last year by the ofJicers 

 to keep the expenses at the lowest practical point, and yet accommodate the exhibi- 

 tors and patrons of the Fair. 



The result has been a fair reduction in almost every department, and but for the 

 large additional expense of new buildings (which were actually necessary), amount- 

 ing to $4,800, we should have had a very gratifying reduction in the aggregate, but 

 which is now about the same as for ISSO. if the Fair should be l)eld at Jackson this 

 year, the expense for building would undoubtedly be much less. 



It is difficult to see where much average retrenchment can be made while the pres- 

 ent system of changing the place of holding the Fair so frequently prevails, without 

 some arrangement can be made whereby the Societj' can reap after benefits from the 

 erection of costly buildings of more or less permanence, used by the Society from 

 one to three years, and then abandoned and virtually lost to the Society; except in a 

 few instances, a very small share of the cost is realized, either from sale or the tak- 

 ing down and again using or selling the materials. Our surplus fund is now large, 

 but a few fairs with unfavorable weather would soon wipe it out; in the days of our 

 prosperity is the time to build wisely. I recommend that this subject be again care- 

 fully considered. 



PAIR CIRCUIT. 



By an agreement between the several agricultural societies included in what is 

 styled the '• Fair Circuit," the several fairs were held in regular succeeding weeks, 

 commencing at Columbus, Ohio, August 29; then to Cleveland, Toledo, and then to 

 Jackson, Michigan, Indianapolis and Waterloo, Indiana. From the tone of the pro- 

 ceedings of the meeting held at Toledo, December 1, ISSl, which was attended on 

 the part of this Society by Messrs. Philo Parsons and J. M. Sterling of our commit- 

 tee, they all seem to have been pleased witli the results, and recommend their con- 

 tinuance. The gentlemen representing this Society at that meeting will undoubt- 

 edly make a report at this meeting of what transpired there, for the information of 

 this committee, and such recommendations as in their judgment may seem proper. 



It is a little over fifty years since the real settlement of the then Territory, now 

 State, of Michigan, commenced. What was then an almost unbroken wilderness 

 covered with the primitive forests, is now, in most of the important and substantial 

 elements of progress and prosperity, one of the greatest States in the Union. Its 

 production of tlie great staples of iron, copper, salt, gypsum, lumber, fresh water 

 fisheries, and fruit, equals or exceeds that of any other State both in quality and 

 quantity. The products per acre of the cultivated lands exceed in value (as given by 

 the official reports) that of any other State. 



In 1S50 the State contained 38,100 farms containing 1,929,100 acres of improved 

 lands. The assessed value of the whole property in the State was $31,000,000; the 

 population was 397,654. In ISSO, in thirty years, the number of farms had increased 

 to 118,941, and the number of acres of improved lands to 6,217,209, and the valuation 

 of the property in the State to $810,000,000, and the population to 1,636,331. 



This society was organized in 1849. Its progress for a time was slow. The people 

 and State were poor, not only in purse but in the necessary knowledge of agriculture 

 and its kindred arts. But its founders and supporters were men of the right stamp. 

 They adopted "Excelsior"' for their motto, and the result is now before the people 

 of the State. 



It was the fruitful germ (well cultivated) from which have sprung as auxiliaries 

 and co-educators of our people, no less than thirty county and district agricultural, 

 pomological, and horticultural societies in this State, some embracing as many as 

 fifteen counties; also a large number of farmers' institutes, cattle, horses, sheep, and 

 swine breeders' associations in various parts of the State, and all of which are in a 

 prosperous condition, disseminating valuable information, and at their fairs annu- 

 ally disbursing premiums and awards by the thousands of dollars, and which are 

 attended by tens and twenties of thousands of people. 



The members and friends of this society were the first to organize in the United 

 States a successful Agricultural College which is thoroughly practical in its aims and 

 objects. Its classes are taught in the fields as well as in the recitation rooms. No 

 time or attention is given to ancient or foreign languages, but thorough training in 

 the English language and literature is provided for, and especial attention is given 

 to the practical sciences and their application. For example: It at present teaches 

 surveying, levelling, the laying out of grounds, mechanics as applied to implements, 

 building, stock breeding, agricultural chemistry, and horticulture; and experiments 

 for the promotion of agriculture are systematically and continuously prosecuted, and 



