448 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



their results are given to the public iu the annual reports of the State Board of 

 Agriculture, and in lectures delivered by members of the faculty at farmers' insti- 

 tutes, which are now held annually in all parts of the State, and which have proved 

 of much value to the farmers of Michigan. 



The school system proper of Michigan, from the primaries up to tlie University, 

 we claim is not excelled in any of the States, and equalled by very few; and I feel 

 very confident that in the promotion and improvement of agriculture and its kindred 

 arts, from the Agricidtural College, the State Board of Agriculture, the State Agri- 

 cultural and Horticultural Societies, and the various district and county societies, 

 farmers' institutes, stock breeders' associations, local and State Granges, we will take 

 rank with the best. While so many organizations having tlie same objects and pur- 

 poses in view would seem to excite a feeling of strife and contention, so far as is 

 known complete harmony prevails, and a creditable feeling exists of a fair competi- 

 tion and a desire to excel which has a direct tendency to stimulate each person and 

 locality to every proper means to obtain the requisite knowledge to accomplish the 

 object sought, to wit: To so educate themselves and their fellow citizens as to be able 

 to raise or produce the largest, best, and most valuable crops of grain, has^ or fruit, 

 or the best and most valuable animal or article of their kind for home use, exhibi- 

 tion, and market. 



As before stated, the principal aim and end sought by this society is to obtain and 

 promulgate practical knowledge to the people of the State on the great and import- 

 ant subject of improvement in agriculture and its kindred arts, and the object of 

 these brief statements I have given of what has been and is being done by the 

 society is to encourage its officers, members, and all other co-workers, not only to 

 continue in their arduous, self-denying, but in their results gratifying, labors, but to 

 also interest and thereby enlist new, young, and competent educators to take the 

 field and help push along the work so well commenced, and develop it to a full, com- 

 plete, and continued success. 



On motion of Mr. Baxter the addresses of the outgoing and incoming 

 presidents were accepted and referred to a committee for subdivision of sub- 

 jects and recoinmendations. 



Messrs, Baxter, Hyde, and Cobb were then appointed such committee. 



The secretary's report was then read, accepted, and referred to proper com- 

 mittee. 



SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



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



Gentlemen,— In conformity to the by-laws, I hereby respectfully report the trans- 

 actions of the secretary's office during the year just closed^ 



Four hundred and thirty-seven warrants, amounting to $17,231.74, were issued upon 

 the treasurer for the payment of accounts audited by the Business Committee: of 

 this amount, ^1,605.69 was drawn for accounts of 1880. A record of the above orders 

 will be found in the register of accounts for 18S1, and upon the stubs of the orders; 

 vouchers corresponding with the orders are on file in the secretary's office. 



Four hundred and twenty-five checks, numbered from 1 to 425 inclusive, were drawn 

 on the treasurer for premiums awarded at the 33d annual fair, and amount to 

 f9,809.00. In addition to these, foru- checks, numbers GGl, 6G2, 063, and 664, amounting 

 to $113, were drawn for premiums on exhibits of 1880, making the total amount of 

 premium checks issued during the year, $9,922.00, A complete list of checks drawn 

 for premiums will be found iu the schedule accompanying the report. 



The following table will show the amount of cash and number of medals and 

 diplomas offered and awarded in each division: 



